TWO drink-drivers with a combined age of 146 have been banned from the road.

Gwendoline Baalham, a 69-year-old great-grandmother, was convicted of drink-driving for the third time.

Baalham, of Berners Road, Felixstowe, was disqualified from driving for three years at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.

Baalham, an alcoholic, had pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal limit.

Prosecutor Lesla Small said police saw a Hyundai Getz had stopped in the middle of Brook Lane, Felixstowe at around 11.10am on March 6.

They then followed the Baalham’s car as it turned into Foxgrove Lane, driving very slowly.

Officer then pulled the Hyundai over and smelled alcohol on Baalham’s breath.

After four or five attempts she managed to take the roadside breath test which indicated a positive reading, the court heard.

Baalham was taken to Martlesham police investigation centre where she was unable a breath sample.

A blood sample was taken which showed she had 148milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mlgs.

The court was told Baalham had previously been convicted of drink-driving in November 2010. She also had another drink-drive related conviction in 1997.

Jay Akpogheneta, representing Baalham, said her client had been unable to give a breath sample as she has hyperventilation syndrome.

She also has various other health issues.

The court was told that among them was an alcohol dependency for which Baalham is now seeking help.

Baalham was also fined £250 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs along with £25 to the victims’ fund.

Meanwhile, 77-year-old Michael Mahon, of Old Kirton Road, Trimley St Martin, was also disqualified from driving.

Mahon pleaded guilty to drink-driving after being spotted by police on April 7.

Prosecutor Patricia Doggett told magistrates an officer had seen Mahon’s Peugeot 406 leaving Trimley Sports and Social Club in High Road, at around 6.35pm.

The officer followed the car until it pulled up on Mahon’s driveway.

Mahon was arrested after refusing to take a roadside breath test. A subsequent breath test showed he had 59 microgrammes of alcohol in 100millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Mahon told the court he had been to a vintage plough tractor match and had popped into Trimley’s social club for a couple of drinks.

He was banned from driving for 16 months, fined £155 and ordered to pay £85 costs, as well as £20 to the victims’ fund.