AN intoxicated soldier caught drink driving on the way back to Colchester Garrison faces being discharged from the Army.

Private Garry Langston, an Army driver based at Merville Barracks, admitted driving while over the limit yesterday at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

The soldier, driving a red Vauxhall Golf, caught the attention of police officers after pulling off at speed in Brook Street last month, just before 5am.

David Bryant, prosecuting, said: “Officers pulled him over and two men got out of the car.

“Mr Langston smelt strongly of alcohol, his speech was slurred, eyes glazed and he was unsteady on his feet.

“He told police he’d had a couple of drinks.”

Langston, 35, failed a roadside test, was arrested and taken to Colchester police station.

The test measured 79mcg of alcohol in 100 ml of breath - more than double the legal limit of 35.

Mark Pearson, mitigating, said the “foolish mistake” will have ramifications for some time.

He said: “The intention was to stay with his girlfriend but as a result of a disagreement he left the address at about 3am to walk back to the barracks.

“Unfortunately, his route took him past where he’d parked his car.

“Because he’d been to bed, not drunk for some hours and been out in the fresh air, he felt safe to drive.”

Langston went to the shop for cigarettes where he met another soldier he planned to also drive home to Merville Barracks.

Mr Pearson said the dad-of-one disagreed with officers that he was unsteady on his feet.

“He absolutely wasn’t,” Mr Pearson said.

He added: “The complication for Langston is the offence falls just within the ten-year period of his previous conviction in South Durham, so he faces an automatic disqualification of three years.

“A mandatory disqualification means he is likely to be discharged from the Army for inefficiency which will have an enormous effect on him.

“The Army has changed his life and he loves his job.”

Chairman of the bench, Bonnie Hill, banned Langston for 36 months while his Sergeant Major sat in the public gallery for support.

She said: “It was within our remit to order longer than that but we have kept it to the minimum.”

Langston agreed to a drink drive rehabilitation course to reduce the ban by 36 weeks and must pay £391 in total fines.