A LONG SERVING soldier has ruined his career after being caught driving at almost twice the legal limit.

Paul Radcliffe, 37, was caught by police driving on Mersea Road, Colchester, just minutes after his wife had been chucked out of a pub by the same officers.

Radcliffe had just been promoted to become a training officer for the most promising recruits in the country and had moved to Tessall Lane, Birmingham for his new posting.

He is now set to not only lose the promotion but could either be demoted down a rank, discharged or have a career ban on any future promotions for the rest of his career.

Radcliffe has been in the army for 20 years, most recently in Colchester, and only had three years left to serve Ian Allen, prosecuting, said: “It was about 1.05am on May 24.

“Police were called with information about a BMW being driven by an intoxicated man.

“A search of Colchester was carried out and police located him travelling along St Botolph’s roundabout to Mersea Road.”

Radcliffe admitted being drunk at the scene and his test was 64 microgrammes per 100ml of breath.

The limit is 35.

He originally denied the charge at court claiming officers had not carried out the check properly but changed his mind, and his plea, at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

The court heard he was out with his friends and wife at a Colchester pub when an argument broke out and police were called.

Lots of alcohol had been consumed and his wife was told to leave by police.

They got into his car and drove to go home.

They were then stopped by police.

Chairman of the bench Robert Clubb said: “This is likely to have a major impact on your future army career.

“We hope it won’t but we have no control over that. For someone with as exemplary a career as you it would be unfortunate if one weak moment was to completely overshadow what has gone before.”

He was disqualified from driving for 17 months and ordered to pay a £525 fine, £85 prosecution costs, £52 victim surcharge and £150 court costs.