A speeding Ipswich drink-driver is set to lose his job after being caught over the limit early on New Year’s Day.

Daniel Chorlton, of Wherstead Road, pleaded guilty when he appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court to driving while above the legal alcohol limit. The 38-year-old also admitted driving with no insurance.

Chorlton had 58 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath after the VW Bora he was driving was stopped at around 3.05am on New Year’s Day. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said police officers were in Foxhall Road when they saw Chorlton’s VW travelling at speed. They estimated it was doing between 50-60mph in a 30mph zone, the court heard. The vehicle was seen turning into Camden Road and then into a private car park.

Chorlton told police he had consumed two pints of lager around 55 minutes earlier.

Chorlton told the court he would lose his job if he was banned as he required his licence because he drives a minibus.

He said: “If I lose my driving licence I can’t see my company keeping me on.”

He was disqualified from driving for 15 months and ordered to pay fines of £300, plus £85 in costs and £20 to the victims’ fund.

At the beginning of December The Star pledged to cover as many drink-driving cases in court as possible as part of its month-long anti-drink-drive campaign.