A DRINK driver is banned from the road today after going to Ipswich police station to report a crime - and ended up getting arrested himself.

A DRINK driver is banned from the road today after going to Ipswich police station to report a crime - and ended up getting arrested himself.

Anthony Stainthorp of Chatsworth Crescent, Ipswich was one of four drink-drivers taken off the road at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court who were caught out by police in one weekend.

Unemployed Stainthorp, 35, was banned for 18 months and fined �195 after he drove to the police station on April 12 to report that his BMW 316 had been damaged during the night.

He had been on an eight hour drinking session at a friend's house the day before and when officers smelled alcohol on him, Stainthorp was arrested and found to be just below twice the legal drink-drive limit, giving a breathalyser reading of 69microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath - the legal limit is 35mcg.

In sentencing him, District Judge Cooper said: “How ironic that you went to the police station to report a crime and ended up getting yourself arrested. It's a rather miserable affair.”

Also before the court was Marcus Dale, from Quilter Drive, Ipswich, who was banned from driving for five years after he admitted driving his Vauxhall Corsa while nearly three times the legal limit.

The 51-year-old was pulled over in Princes Street on April 11, having only held a licence for three months after it was returned to him following a previous conviction for drink driving.

He provided officers with a roadside breathtest reading of 103 microgrammes (mcg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

Dale, who confessed in court to having an alcohol addiction, acknowledged his behaviour was “completely irresponsible and selfish”. He must also complete a year-long drink-impaired driver programme.

Wayne Eagling was arrested on April 12 after a breathtest showed he had 43 mcg of alcohol per 100 ml of breath.

The 23-year-old mechanic from Helmingham Road, Gosbeck, admitted drinking two cans of lager at a friend's house before his BMW was pulled over in Sproughton at 9.55pm.

Eagling told the court that he depended on his vehicle to get to and from work but was nevertheless banned from driving for 12 months and fined �360.

William Edwards, 40, from Oxford, was stopped by police in Burlington Road on April 11.

The pipe fitter and welder, who had been celebrating his birthday the night before, was due in Colchester but stopped in Ipswich for a pub lunch accompanied by two double gin and tonics.

Edwards provided a breathtest of 89mcg per 100ml of breath - more than twice the legal limit of 35mcg.

Judge Cooper handed Edwards a �580 fine and banned him from driving for 18 months.