A driving ban imposed on a DJ who was found asleep in his car while nearly two times the legal drink drive limit has been reduced – after a magistrate was told it would destroy the man’s business.

Jeremy Durrant, of Gavin Way, Highwoods, Colchester, was banned from the road for 16 months after admitting to drink driving on November 2 during a hearing at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

The initial sentence was 18 months.

Durrant, 40, who described himself as a “mobile entertainer” in court, had performed at a club in the Corn Exchange area of Ipswich that night.

But the court was told that he had been suffering from anxiety after recently losing his mother and had to have a few drinks to get through it.

After the show he drove his car from the town centre but after realising he was in no fit state to drive, he decided to park at the McDonald’s car park in Goddard Road, Ipswich.

Police who were in the area noticed the vehicle was not parked properly and they found that Durrant was asleep in the driver’s side – however it was noted in court that the engine was not switched on.

He was then given a breath test which showed he had 63 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – the limit is 35mcgs.

Durrant showed remorse during the proceedings and said to the court: “This isn’t in my character.

“I am embarrassed and ashamed.

“I know that I have done wrong and that I need to be punished, but I am a mobile entertainer so it is going to completely destroy my business.

“My father also lives out in the country and that will make it difficult.”

District Judge Celia Dawson gave Durrant credit for his guilty plea and described him as a “man of good character”.

Durrant was initially given an 18-month driving ban but that was reduced to 16 months when it was taken into account how it would affect Durrant’s business.

The ban could be further reduced by four months if he completes a drink drive awareness course.

He was also fined £150, £85 costs and he was also ordered to pay £20 to the victim’s fund.