A POLISH man caught drink-driving in Chester on New Year's Day will have to relocate to Northern Ireland to keep his job.

Henryk Sienkiewicz, 36, of Newhall Road, Upton, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, January 24 to driving while having nearly three times the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

The court heard Sienkiewicz was of previous good character both in the UK and in Poland, and had been employed by a firm in Northern Ireland as a driver.

Defending, Richard Simm said the defendant knew he was going to be banned from driving and told his employer about this.

Mr Simm said: "They value him as an employee and will keep him on in their factory – but in Northern Ireland. He will have to relocate there."

The court heard Sienkiewicz had been stopped in his blue Subaru Impreza at 5.30am on New Year's Day, having been driving at speed on Brook Lane.

Mr Simm added Sienkiewicz, who had been employed as a driver for 10 years in Poland prior to coming to the UK, was at a New Year's Eve party at a friend's address a couple of miles from his home with the intention of staying over for the night.

However, it became apparent, after he had consumed a few drinks, that several other people wanted to spend the night there and there was not enough room at the address.

Mr Simm said: "He made the very foolish decision to drive the vehicle to his address."

Sienkiewicz – who gave a reading of 95 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, compared to the legal limit of 35 – was very remorseful for his behaviour, saying he was usually very strict in the knowledge his job was that of a driver.

Sienkiewicz was handed a 24-month driving ban, which would be reduced by a quarter if he completed the drink-drive rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £585, plus £85 court costs and a £59 victim surcharge.