Shamed Ipswich drink-driver brands his offence ‘a disgrace’
Drink driver in court - Credit: Archant
A 67-year-old man admitted his shame and disgrace to a court after pleading guilty to drink-driving.
Howard Nichols, of Preston Drive, Ipswich, was banned from the road for 12 months when he appeared before the town's South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.
The incident occurred on May 20 in Stratford Road.
Prosecutor Colette Harper said police were alerted by a member of the public to Nichols driving a Ford Fusion at 8.20pm.
A breath test showed he had 54 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.
Representing himself, Nichols - a father-of-four - said: "It's just shameful really. It's a disgrace. I'm so ashamed."
He added he had three sons and a daughter who depended on him to drive them around.
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"I have let them down", he said.
The court was told Nichols had gone for a drink at lunchtime and thought the alcohol would be out of his system by the time he had decided to drive.
In addition to his driving ban Nichols was fined £100 and ordered to pay a £150 criminal courts charge. He must also pay £45 towards prosecution costs and £20 to the victims' fund.
