A CHEF who was found asleep in the back of his Vauxhall Corsa after an argument with his parents has been banned from driving for 18 months for a drink driving offence.

Jonathan Schofield

A CHEF who was found asleep in the back of his Vauxhall Corsa after an argument with his parents has been banned from driving for 18 months for a drink driving offence.

Stuart Farrell, 20, of Calthorpe Close, Bury St Edmunds, was arrested on August 22 after police found him parked on a green in Long Melford following a tip off from a member of the public.

Bury magistrates heard that Farrell, who works as a chef in one of the village hotels and pleaded guilty to the charge of drink driving, finished work at 3pm on August 21 and drove back to Bury St Edmunds to see his girlfriend.

After drinking alcohol with her, his girlfriend's mother drove him back to his home, which he shares with his parents. The court heard that Farrell then consumed two cans of cider between 10-11pm before getting into an argument with his parents, leaving the house and driving to Long Melford.

Emma Howson, prosecuting, said a Long Melford resident was woken at 1.40am on August 22 by a car screeching.

She said: “When he looked out he saw a red Vauxhall Corsa which then parked on the green. He saw a man get out and appear to make a bed in the back of his car.

“He called the police and when they arrived they found the defendant asleep in a sleeping bag on the back seat.”

On top of his driving ban Farrell was ordered to pay total costs of �325 to the court.

If he completes a driver disqualification scheme with Suffolk Police by the end of September next year the judge told Farrell his driving ban would be reduced to 14 months.