A SPRAY painter who drove at almost twice the speed limit while almost twice the drink drive limit has lost his licence.Luke Theobald told police he was drunk the previous night and was taking his partner to work at 9.

A SPRAY painter who drove at almost twice the speed limit while almost twice the drink drive limit has lost his licence.

Luke Theobald told police he was drunk the previous night and was taking his partner to work at 9.30am when he was caught on the A12 at Woodbridge.

Lesla Small, prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, said police spotted the 20-year-old driving at 71 miles per hour in a 40 limit.

He had 60 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Theobald, of Melton, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

Theobald told the court he was sorry for what he had done.

He was disqualified from driving for 16 months and told he would get his licence back in March 2009 unless he took the drink-driver rehabilitation course.

He agreed to do so and to pay for the course to get his licence back in November 2008.

Theobald was fined £350 and told to pay £80 costs.

The Evening Star is about to launch our annual name and shame campaign highlighting people who are convicted of drink driving over the Christmas period.

Our reporters will be in court looking for people who have been caught drink driving - and our photographers will be taking pictures of drink drivers as they arrive at or leave court.