A PENSIONER was forced to take the bus home from court after he admitted drink-driving.Denis McMullen, 67, of Cambridge Drive, Ipswich, is banned from the road today after he was caught over the limit while driving his car in Sheldrake Drive on January 13.

A PENSIONER was forced to take the bus home from court after he admitted drink-driving.

Denis McMullen, 67, of Cambridge Drive, Ipswich, is banned from the road today after he was caught over the limit while driving his car in Sheldrake Drive on January 13.

He now has to swap his Toyota Corolla for public transport to get around and was pictured catching the bus after his appearance at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Meanwhile, it was drink-driving rather than the credit crunch that was jeopardising jobs after four other menaces pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated.

Philip Beresford Webb, of Spring Road, Ipswich, said he was certain to be sacked after claiming he “accidentally” rode a motorbike after a few drinks.

Beresford Webb said he was sitting on the Suzuki 125cc outside his house while his friend was showing him how the vehicle worked.

With the engine running, Beresford Webb let out the clutch and began riding along the road before clipping a car earlier this month.

When police officers breathalysed him at his house, he was found to have 93microgrammes of alcohol in 100millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Beresford Webb also admitted having no insurance and driving without a valid licence for the bike.

The 21-year-old said: “I have spoken to my area manager and I have been told I will lose my job if I lose my driving licence.”

Roofer Joe Allen also feared the axe after he was caught drink-driving for a second time.

On January 4, the 23-year-old, of Highfield Road, Ipswich, stole his partner's car so he could get cigarettes, but crashed head-on into another car in Hawes Street, injuring a female motorist.

Allen, who was convicted of drink-driving in 2005, also admitted aggravated vehicle taking and having no insurance.

Mark Holt, mitigating, said Allen will lose his job because he needs to travel around the country.

In another hearing, Viktor Mackel, of Ravenswood Avenue, Ipswich, pleaded for leniency after he was busted driving his BMW along his road on January 10.

Speaking through an interpreter, the Lithuanian said: “I will be lost without my licence. My job depends on being able to drive my car.”

Ernestas Glodenis, of Grimwade Street, Ipswich, also faces a bleak future after claiming he will lose his job at a storage company near Woodbridge.

The 24-year-old was nearly twice the legal limit when he was stopped in Tyler Street on January 19.

He said: “I'm certain I will lose my job because I have to drive there and back. I don't know how I will pay my bills.”

Should drink-drive sentences be harsher? Write to Your Letters, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Denis McMullen was caught with 85mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

He was disqualified from driving for one year, fined �165 and ordered to pay court costs of �65 and a �15 victim surcharge.

Philip Beresford Webb, who had 93mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, was banned for one year, fined �165 for drink-driving and �50 for no insurance.

He also had to pay �65 in costs and a �15 victim surcharge.

Viktor Mackel registered 84mcg in 100ml of breath. He was disqualified for one year, fined �165 and told to pay �65 in court costs and a �15 victim surcharge.

Joe Allen was banned for three years and told to do 80 hours unpaid work during a one-year supervision order.

He was also ordered to pay �250 to the crash victim and �65 in costs. He was busted with 81mcg in 100ml of breath.

Ernestas Glodenis was disqualified from driving for one year, fined �165 and told to pay costs of �65 and a �15 victim surcharge.

He had 59mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.