A driver has been disqualified for more than a year and fined over a £1,000 after being caught drink driving on Christmas Day. 

Saman Silva, 40, and of Mapleton Gardens, Ipswich, appeared at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. 

He was facing three charges all relating to an incident which happened in the early hours of Christmas Day: driving whilst his alcohol levels were above the legal limit; driving a vehicle without third party insurance; and driving a vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Silva pleaded guilty to all three offences. 

The court heard that Silva carries a valid driving licence in Sri Lanka, but not in the UK.

During the hearing, magistrates heard that since moving to the UK the 40-year-old had not taken a driving test in that time as he was not confident that his English would be good enough to pass the written element of the test. 

The court heard that Silva had been persuaded by his brother-in-law to drive him to a nearby shop to buy cigarettes having consumed a large amount of alcohol. 

Whilst driving home, the black Mercedes was noticed by Suffolk police as it came around a corner “a little fast”. 

Silva refused to give a roadside breath specimen, although he later explained that he did not understand what he was being asked.

He was driven to a police station where he consented to be breathalysed and was found to have 51 microgrammes of alcohol for 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes. 

Silva was fined £461 for driving under the influence of alcohol and a further £461 for driving without insurance. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £369 and court costs of £105, an amount totalling £1,396. 

He was disqualified from driving for 15 months.