The future of Ipswich Town football star Mark Venus "hangs in the balance" today after he was fined £3,000 for drink-driving in Colchester.

Magistrates in Colchester heard how Venus, 35, of Boxhouse Lane, Dedham, was caught driving in Colchester with nearly double the legal alcohol limit on November 10.

Venus, whose contract with the Division One club runs out next year, admitted the charge and was fined £3,000 and banned from driving for 18 months.

The court was told how Venus was driving a Saab car in Mersea Road and Bourne Road at 2am when he was seen.

Steven Butler, prosecuting, told the court police saw his car driving across chevrons and swerving over the centre line of the road.

Officers followed the car into Bourne Road where Venus was stopped, he said.

He gave a positive roadside breath test. A later breath test at a police station showed 65mcg of alcohol. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Paul Roach, mitigating, said Venus had been partying with friends and hadn't meant to drink and drive.

Mr Roach said that, during the evening, Venus drank about four pints of bitter and felt OK to drive.

He added Venus disputed he had been driving carelessly, and said the corner into Bourne Road was difficult to negotiate.

He said that Venus's contract would come to an end in 2003 and his footballing future was in the balance and so he would need his licence.

Magistrates gave Venus some credit for his early guilty plea and told him if he signed up to a driving rehabilitation course his ban would be cut by four months.

After being fined and banned, Venus declined to comment about the case.

Published Thursday November 14, 2002

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