A SOZZLED driver who drove slowly to avoid killing himself is banned from driving today, along with an alcoholic who was more than four times the drink-drive limit.

Slawomir Inczewski, of Turin Road, Ipswich, was disqualified from driving for two years, while Richard McPherson, of Bull Road, Ipswich, was given a three-year ban at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.

McPherson had 161 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when he was breath-tested at Ipswich police station. The legal limit is 35mcg.

The 44-year-old was stopped on Friday, August 13, while driving a silver Nissan Micra in Henslow Road, Ipswich, by two police community support officers.

A police officer was called to the scene and a roadside breath test proved positive for alcohol.

The court heard that unemployed McPherson has an alcohol problem.

Commenting on the high reading, District Judge David Cooper said: “It is one of the highest readings I have come across for a long time.

“You have convinced me you are struggling with a disease, as it often is for people who abuse alcohol.”

In addition to his ban, McPherson, who admitted drink-driving, was given a 20-week prison term suspended for 18 months, with an 18-month supervision order. He was also ordered to undertake an alcohol treatment requirement for six months.

Judge Cooper also ordered McPherson to pay �85 costs.

Earlier the court heard prosecutor Andrea Reynolds tell Judge Cooper that Inczewski was seen by police driving slowly in a Peugeot in Bury Road, Ipswich.

When he was asked why, the 28-year-old told them it was so he would not kill himself.

A breath test established Inczewski, a chicken factory worker, had 109mcg of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – more than three times the legal drink-drive limit.

The Polish national also pleaded guilty to having no insurance and not having a full driving licence.

He was fined a total of �585 after admitting all three offences. In addition, Inczewski must pay �85 costs and a �15 government surcharge.