Drink-drive biker banned day after passing test

A teenage motorcyclist has been banned from the road after he was caught over the drink-drive limit just one day after he passed his test.

Jason Richards, 18, of Beccles, Suffolk, passed his motorbike test last Friday, but the next day he was pulled over by police and found to have 44 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Police today said they believed the driving ban to be the quickest ever recorded in Suffolk.

Richards admitted driving while over the limit and was banned from the roads from a year, reduced to nine months if he takes part in a drink-driver rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £100 and ordered to pay £60 costs when he appeared before Lowestoft Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

After the hearing Richards said he was a 'bit gutted' and felt stupid for not realising he was over the limit, three hours after having three pints at lunchtime.

"If I had known I was over the limit I would never have done it. I am a bit gutted really. I had only had my licence 28 hours".

Sargent Steve Knight, of the Halesworth Road policing unit in Suffolk, said: "This is the quickest I have known someone be caught after passing their test and it sends a strong message that, regardless of your age and experience, you will be prosecuted when you are caught drinking and driving."