March 1, 2001 9:12: A PROFESSIONAL driver who was caught drink-driving twice in one month once after a three-day drink binge was banned from driving for three years.

Alexander Flander, 25, from Whinneys Road, Loudwater, was stopped by police at 1.03am on December 22 last year and tested positive for drink-driving.

Balbir Seyan, prosecuting, told Wycombe magistrates last Thursday that Flander, who pleaded guilty in January to two drink driving charges, had 82 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 milligrammes of blood two milligrammes above the legal limit.

Mr Seyan said that Flander was then caught a month later, on January 22, at 2.58am when he was driving at speed.

When tested he was then found to have 103 milligrammes of alcohol in his blood.

James Smith, defending, said: "I would ask you to take into account Mr Flander pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. He is a man of previous good character."

Mr Smith told the court that because Flander was a professional driver, his income had already been halved.

For the second offence Mr Smith said: "He had been on holiday and in his words he had been on a three-day drinking binge."

Magistrates sentenced Flander to a 150-hour community service order, ordered him to pay £55 towards prosecution costs and banned him from driving for three years.