The magistrates courts have been busy this month with drink and drug driving offences.

The offence attracts a compulsory driving ban and also usually results in a hefty fine.

The drink driving limit for breath is 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath while for blood it is 80 milligrammes of blood per 100 millilitres of blood.

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Here's a round-up of the latest drivers sentenced for drink and drug driving in Essex roads:

  • James Stephen Bolton, 42, of Beauchamps Drive, Wickford, was caught with 153 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, when he was stopped in South Ockendon.

He has been banned from driving for 18 months after admitting the offence on May 5.

Basildon Magistrates’ Court also ordered him to pay a £500 fine, a victim services charge of £50 and prosecution costs of £105.

  • Paul Mansfield, 48, of Westcliff Park Drive, Westcliff, was caught with 129 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood when he was stopped in Baxter Avenue in Southend.

He was fined £330 and ordered to pay a victim services charge of £35 and prosecution costs of £105 when he appeared at Southend Magistrates' Court.

He has also been banned from driving for 12 months.

  • Arvinder Singh, 33, of Ashdown Walk, Romford, was caught with 80 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when he was stopped on the A127 in Basildon.

He has been banned from driving for 21 months after admitting the offence on May 6.

Basildon Magistrates’ Court also ordered him to pay a £700 fine, a victim services charge of £70 and prosecution costs of £105.

  • Paul Baker, 67, of Alderleys, Benfleet, was caught with 86 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when he was stopped in Wavertree Road. An accident also occurred where damage was caused to another vehicle.

He was fined £400 and ordered to pay a victim services charge of £40 and prosecution costs of £105 when he appeared at Basildon Magistrates' Court.

He has been banned from driving for 40 months.

  • Thomas Davies, 32, of Cluny Square, Southend, was caught with a proportion of Benzoylecgonine in his blood which exceeded the specified limit, namely 156 µg/L, when he was stopped in Ambleside Drive.

He has been banned from driving for 18 months after admitting the offence on May 5.

Southend Magistrates’ Court also ordered him to pay a £450 fine, a victim services charge of £45 and prosecution costs of £105.