South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court

A REPEAT drink-driver who got behind the wheel while nearly three times the limit despite being banned has been spared jail.

Dainius Visinskis was given a 12-week prison term, suspended for 18 months, when he appeared before Ipswich magistrates for sentencing.

The 30-year-old is now disqualified from driving for 42 months after his latest jaunt in Felixstowe when police saw him weaving across roads and almost colliding with other vehicles.

Visinskis, of Church Lane, Trimley St Martin, must also abide by a six-week curfew from 9pm to 5am each day as part of his sentence.

The Lithuanian-national had previously admitted driving when above the alcohol limit, driving while disqualified and using a motor vehicle without insurance.

Visinskis, who has also lived in Bramford Road, Ipswich, was originally given a drink-drive ban in July 2011, when he was disqualified for 20 months.

He ignored the disqualification and was seen driving in Walton Avenue, Felixstowe, at around 5.20am on October 13.

Police followed his blue Mercedes from the town’s docks after seeing it being driven erratically over the white lines in the centre of the road.

They also saw the vehicle almost collide with cars which were parked outside The Dolphin public house.

The R-registered Mercedes was eventually pulled over in Beach Station Road.

After Visinskis was stopped, he told officers he had consumed half of a three-litre bottle of cider between 6pm the previous evening and 1am on October 13.

A breath test while in custody showed he had 98 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.

In addition to his suspended sentence, driving ban, and curfew Visinskis was ordered to pay £85 prosecutions costs and an £80 government surcharge.