A MUSICIAN has been banned from the road after being caught drink-driving while on his way home from a gig.

David Nokes, of Chaucer Road, Ipswich, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.

The 59-year-old also admitted using a motor vehicle without an MOT.

Prosecutor Lesla Small said Nokes was caught at 1.50am on April 7 after police saw his gold Rover 75 travelling along Norwich Road in Ipswich.

Officers noticed the car’s off-side light cluster was broken and stopped the car.

The court heard Nokes had been returning from The Limes hotel in Needham Market at the time, with his musical equipment in the vehicle.

Police smelled alcohol on his breath and arrested him.

A breath test showed he had 66 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Miss Small said Nokes had a previous drink-drive conviction in June 2003.

Ross Coates, representing Nokes, said his client very much regretted the situation he found himself in.

Mr Coates added: “He had been performing at The Limes which he does on a regular basis – two or three times a week.”

The court was told Nokes was normally very cautious about what he drank.

While packing up his equipment Nokes had consumed a couple of Red Bulls which a friend had given him.

Mr Coates said his client subsequently thought they must have contained some vodka, although he did not realise that was the case.

Nokes, a van driver, was also said to be at risk of losing his job due to the loss of his licence.

He was disqualified from driving for three years and fined £300. Nokes was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £30 to the victims’ fund.