A BUILDER could lose his business after admitting being almost twice the legal drink-drive limit.

William Thorp-Rowe said his new business would suffer when he was banned from driving for 12 months.

The 41-year-old appeared before Colchester Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Tamzin Sharp, prosecuting, told the court Thorp-Rowe was stopped by police on December 5, at around 9.10pm.

She said: "Police saw two vehicles - a Vauxhall Astra and a Mitsubishi - when they decided to stop the Mitsubishi.

"They spoke to Mr Thorp-Rowe, who was the driver, and when he was breath tested his reading was 65mgs in his of breath sample - the legal limit is 35mgs."

Thorp-Rowe, of Humber Avenue, Jaywick, said his three-year-old business would suffer if he was banned from driving.

He said: "It's taken a couple of years to build up the business, and both my sons work for me.

"There's no excuse for what I've done and I've let everyone down."

Magistrates banned him from driving for 12 months, but this could be reduced to nine if he completes a drink driving rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £200 and ordered to pay court costs of £60 and a victim surcharge of £15.