A man from Bury St Edmunds has been banned from the road for 23 months after driving while almost three times the drink drive limit.

Naji Elomri, 49, of Oliver Road, pleaded guilty at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court today to driving with excess alcohol.

Prosecuting, Sandra Dyer said a member of the public had called police after seeing a white transit van hitting some railings in Bury St Edmunds.

Officers found the van, which had suffered severe damage to the nearside wheel, outside St Benedict’s Catholic School in Beetons Way.

She said when asked by police officers how the damage had been done, Elomri said he couldn’t remember.

A breath test revealed he had 97 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

In mitigation, Elomri told the court he had been going through a tough time in his life and admitted his actions were wrong.

He added that he was grateful he hadn’t hurt anyone.

Elomri was fined £450 and banned from the road for 23 months.