A DRINK driver who was "profoundly affected" by the attempted suicide of a close friend was found slumped at the wheel of his car.

Police found David Ewing, 27, at the wheel of his Peugeot at 2.30am in November.

Bethany Richards, prosecuting at Colchester Magistrates’ Court, said he was found slumped towards the steering wheel, while a woman was in the passenger seat.

“The officer noticed the vehicle was turned on, with the keys in the ignition,” she said.

“The officer noticed the defendant had slurred speech and could notice the smell of intoxicating liquor.

“He told the officer he was on the way to a Premier Inn and had popped a tyre.”

Ewing, of Acacia Avenue, Colchester, failed a breath test, recording 56mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Lucy Osborn, mitigating, said Ewing accepted responsibility for his actions, which were driven by the "profound affect" of mental health issues suffered by a close friend.

She said: “He describes himself as a man who has never been interested in drinking or going out, as someone who has always worked hard from a young age.

“He has a close friend, who he worked with for last eight years and formed a close bond.

“In the months before this incident occurred, Mr Ewing’s friend had fallen into rapid decline of his mental health, had taken an overdose and was placed into an induced coma."

Ms Osborn said a driving ban would place his career in jeopardy. Magistrates banned Ewing from the roads for 12 months and ordered him to pay £339 in fines and court costs.