A 52-YEAR-old driver has lost her licence after being caught behind the wheel while more than four-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit.

Helen Hoyle, of Bigod Close, Framlingham, was disqualified from driving for three years when she appeared before North East Suffolk Magistrates Court in Lowestoft.

Hoyle pleaded had pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle when above the legal alcohol limit.

She was caught after her car had stopped in the middle of the B1116 at Hacheston, near Woodbridge.

The incident occurred just after 7pm on March 10.

A member of the public called police to report his concerns about Hoyle after seeing her stationary blue Fiat Punto in the road with its lights on, but the engine switched off.

The man had gone over to the vehicle to check on the welfare of the driver and found Hoyle in the driver’s seat. Her breath was said to have smelled of alcohol.

Police were sent to the scene and a roadside breath test was carried out which gave a positive reading for alcohol.

Hoyle was taken into custody where a further test was carried out on an intoximeter.

This test showed that Hoyle had a reading of 157 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

In addition to her driving ban the court fined Hoyle £150 and ordered her to pay £50.

She was also ordered to pay £20 to the victims’ fund.