A LORRY driver with 20 years experience is now off the road after being caught drink driving.John McNamee, 46, of Swatchway Close in the Gainsborough area of Ipswich, drunk around six pints of beer the night before he started work at Felixstowe docks on December 14.

A LORRY driver with 20 years experience is now off the road after being caught drink driving.

John McNamee, 46, of Swatchway Close in the Gainsborough area of Ipswich, drunk around six pints of beer the night before he started work at Felixstowe docks on December 14.

Gareth Davies, prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, said that concerned co-workers had called police after spotting him behind the wheel while apparently drunk.

When stopped and breathalysed he was found to be over the limit and arrested on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol.

He was breathalysed again at the police station where he gave a reading of 55 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - above the legal limit for driving of 35mg in 100 millilitres of breath.

Mr Davies said: “This illustrates the dangers of heavy drinking in the evening and then driving the next morning.

“He was cooperative and provided no problems to the police when he was stopped or at the station.”

McNamee, who is now unemployed, said: “I have been a lorry driver for 20 years and I did not realise the consequences of having a drink at night and being over the limit the next morning.

“If I had known I was over the limit I would never have driven. All I can do is apologise.”

Bernard Hinds, chairman of the magistrates, banned McNamee from driving for one year, to be reduced to nine months if he successfully completes a drink drivers' rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £150.

ANOTHER shamed driver is off the roads for up to a year after admitting being over the limit while behind the wheel.

Timothy Pearson, 48, of Adastral Close, Felixstowe, was pulled over by police in his home town on December 1.

He provided a positive breath test, registering 40 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Because he was only marginally over the 35mg limit he was offered the chance to provide a blood sample, which he declined.

He pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle when his alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit, when he appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court on Monday.

He told the court: “There is no mitigating causes or excuses for drinking and driving and I bow my head in shame.

“I am prepared to pay the cost of my actions.”

Presiding magistrate Anthony Baker banned him from driving for one year, to be reduced by three months if he successfully completes a drink drivers' rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £200 and ordered to pay costs of £60 and a £15 victim surcharge.