An IT manager has been banned from driving after crashing his Audi into a ditch while over the alcohol limit.

Marc Aalders-Dunthorne tried to sleep off the alcohol he consumed at a party the night before attempting to drive home on Saturday, March 3.

Police received reports of a motorist walking away from an overturned black Audi A3 at 5.30am that morning – beside the A1120 at Dennington, near Framlingham.

Two officers located a man matching the driver’s description at about 6am.

David Bryant, prosecuting the case at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court, in Ipswich, on Tuesday, said Aalders-Dunthorne told police he had been to a party and was walking to a friend’s house.

“He was unable to provide the friend’s address, or explain how he got there,” Mr Bryant told magistrates.

“He told officers he owned a red SEAT – and not an Audi – so they put him in the vehicle and drove back up the road to the scene.

“They checked the registration of the Audi and found it was registered to his address – but he still said it wasn’t him.

“A roadside breath test proved positive and he was arrested, but gave no comment during a police interview.”

The 22-year-old, of New Street, Fressingfield, received a caution for drug possession on the same day as driving with 51 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit being 35mcg.

Paul Booty, representing Aalders-Dunthorne, said his client’s previous good character had now been lost.

“Knowing he was over the limit, he slept, thinking it would be long enough for the alcohol to work its way out of his system – clearly, it hadn’t,” added Mr Booty, who explained that travelling to and from work as an IT manager in Claydon would be difficult for Aalders-Dunthorne following disqualification from driving.

“He is unsure of the outcome, as far as his employment is concerned,” concluded the solicitor.

Magistrates banned Aalders-Dunthorne from driving for 14 months, with the option of reducing the disqualification by 14 weeks if he completes a drink-driver rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £500 and ordered to pay costs and a statutory victim surcharge.