DRINK-driving is an intensely anti-social offence - but the stupidity of some criminals almost defies belief.The case of Leslie Crossley, who was caught drink driving twice in the same day, shows that some people are quite incapable of learning their lesson.

DRINK-driving is an intensely anti-social offence - but the stupidity of some criminals almost defies belief.

The case of Leslie Crossley, who was caught drink driving twice in the same day, shows that some people are quite incapable of learning their lesson.

He was caught in the early hours of the morning with more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his breath, booked and allowed to return to his Felixstowe home.

During that evening he clearly drank again and once more got behind the wheel of his car. When he was caught out on this occasion he had just under twice the legal limit in his breath.

That could not have been just a residual reading - he must have hit the bottle again before taking to the road.

Other road users will be relieved to hear that he has now been banned from driving for three years - although there is a big question about whether this 51-year-old menace will ever learn his lesson.

He has already been banned for drink-driving twice, in 1997 and 2000, and clearly did not learn his lesson on those occasions.

For persistent repeat offenders like this, surely the safest lesson would be to ban them from the road for life - or at least for a decade and then force them to take an extended test before they are allowed to return behind the wheel.

And isn't it time that the courts are given the power to confiscate the vehicle offenders are caught driving if it is a second or third offence.

The prospect of killing himself of losing his licence clearly didn't worry Crossley - maybe the risk of losing his Shogun 4x4 would have made him think twice before drink-driving.

AFTER months of construction work, and weeks of delays caused by flooding problems, it is good to know that the multi-million pound Garrett Anderson Centre at Ipswich Hospital is almost ready to open.

The centre is a wonderful new addition to Suffolk's largest hospital and will offer even better care to people brought in to the accident and emergency department.

Everyone will now be hoping that the problems of the last few weeks do turn out to be just teething troubles and that the dedicated and talented staff who will be working in the department will have the opportunity to do what they do best - saving lives and helping to make people better and able to return home fit and well.

IPSWICH Town's new season ticket offer published today is a sea of figures that supporters will have to study carefully before they decide whether to invest a substantial amount of money in watching the Tractor Boys next year.

The club is making much of the discounts on offer to loyal supporters if the team achieves its goal of promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season.

However the fact is that judging from the performance on Tuesday night, the dream of Premier League football next year is looking increasingly forlorn.

And what is significant is that people who renew season tickets in the hope of getting a cheaper deal are taking a huge gamble - the discount is only available until April 13.

That is nearly four weeks before the end of the season - and six weeks before the play-off finals.

Of course die-hard fans will renew anyway - but how many will be prepared to play Premier League roulette remains to be seen.