A man has been banned from the road for three years after drink-driving for a second time.

Dean Page, 22, was spotted driving on a pavement in Daniel Cole Road, Colchester, on July 20 before abandoning his car nearby in Berechurch Road, magistrates heard yesterday.

Rebekah Korniej, prosecuting, said police searched the area but found him at a friend's house a short while later and he was arrested.

A test showed Page, of Mersea Road, Colchester, had 114mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Page admitted driving while above the legal alcohol limit as well as charges of driving without insurance or a test certificate.

The magistrates also heard how he had received a previous 18-month ban in June 1998 for a drink-driving offence.

Paul Baker, mitigating, said Page accepted he had had a drink before getting behind the wheel of his car, but was not over the limit at that time.

After leaving his car, he had a few alcoholic drinks with his friend and it was those drinks which had pushed him over the limit on the breath test.

While that evidence could not be considered by the magistrates, Mr Baker said he would be appealing for a judicial review of the case because of it.

Page was banned from driving for three years and was told to do 80 hours of unpaid work in the community and complete a community rehabilitation order.

The order will also involve him taking part in a special 14-week-long programme for drink drivers.

Published Tuesday, January 28, 2003

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