A drink-driver caught speeding has been banned from the roads despite a plea that it would affect his job as a drywall installer.

Matthew Williams, 32, was driving at 61km/h — almost twice the 35km/h speed limit — when he was caught in a police speed trap on Middle Road, Southampton, Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.

Officers stopped him and discovered that his motorcycle was licensed under a different number that had expired.

Williams admitted he had switched his licence plate with another broken bike.

Police officers demanded proof of insurance, which the defendant was unable to provide, and suspected he had been drinking.

Williams told them: “I had two Cockspurs and cokes.”

He was taken to Hamilton Police Station and provided a breath test, which registered at 152 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mg/100ml.

The incident happened on February 27.

Williams, from Sandys, admitted driving while impaired, use of an unlicensed motorcycle, fraudulent use of documents and speeding. He denied driving without third party insurance.

Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe fined Williams $1,000 for the impaired driving charge and banned him from the roads for 18 months.

He also fined him $310 for speeding, $350 for the unlicensed motorcycle and $150 for fraudulent use of documents.

Williams said that the ban would get in the way of his work as a drywall installer.

He added: “I only had two drinks, I didn’t think I’d be over the limit.”

Mr Wolffe released Williams on $500 bail for his third party insurance charge and adjourned the case until June 5.

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