A FATHER of five who was caught drink driving on the A12 blamed the incident on having a glass of wine with an instructor after a dance class.

Justino Vale-Kibonda, 49, was driving an Audi Q7 at 12.30am on November 15 last year when officers stopped him near the turn-off on Junction 29 of the A12, near Colchester.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard on Friday how Vale-Kibonda, who commutes to north London for his job as a metal worker, gave a breath test at Chelmsford police station showing he had 50mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

Court - Justino Vale-Kibonda appeared before magistrates in Colchester on Friday to admit one charge of drink drivingCourt - Justino Vale-Kibonda appeared before magistrates in Colchester on Friday to admit one charge of drink driving (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

The legal limit is 35mcg.

Vale-Kibonda, of Larchwood Close, Ipswich, admitted one charge of drink driving.

Wyn Davies, mitigating, argued that the defendant would be “hit very hard” by a driving ban.

He said Vale-Kibonda had shared a glass of wine after a dance class with his instructor.

Mr Davies said a driving ban would be "particularly harsh" because the defendant did not usually drink.

He said: “On the evening of the offence he had completed a dance class, gone back to his instructor’s flat with another friend, and they proceeded to open a bottle of wine.

Banned - Justino Vale-Kibonda had his driving licence revoked for a yearBanned - Justino Vale-Kibonda had his driving licence revoked for a year (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) “He took the unusual step of participating and was therefore not familiar with the effects it would have on him.

“I say [a ban] will affect him harshly because he works 79 miles away from where he lives – he is a metal worker and needs to be able to drive to look at sites he goes to and deliver the work as well.

“He has seven employees but none of them can do what he does.”

Mr Davies said Vale-Kibonda had to support his five children and has outstanding payments of £175,000 on his mortgage.

Class - it was argued in Justino Vale-Kibonda's defence that he rarely drinks and had shared wine with a dancing instructor after a class (Stock image)Class - it was argued in Justino Vale-Kibonda's defence that he rarely drinks and had shared wine with a dancing instructor after a class (Image: Pexels) Deputy district judge Sundeep Pankhania banned Vale-Kibonda from driving for a year and fined him £310, with costs of £209.

He said: “Driving whilst under the influence of alcohol is a serious offence because people’s driving is impaired and accidents are more likely to be caused."

The judge said the one-year ban was the minimum he could impose in the circumstances.