A maths teacher drove his car while almost twice the legal alcohol limit.

It was the second time that Falconer Dunn, 57, of Minster, had been caught drinking and driving – he has now been banned for three years.

Dunn, known as Frank, had been at a retirement party when he got into his blue BMW to head home.

He claimed his wife had agreed to drive the return journey to Queenborough Drive, but had drunk more than him throughout the evening and so he sat in the driver’s seat.

Police stopped the couple at about 10.20pm, on Friday, March 9, at Rowetts Way in Eastchurch.

A breath test revealed Dunn had 69 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He had been disqualified for 17 months in January 2010 for drink-driving as well as being fined £650 and having to go on an awareness scheme.

Dunn’s representative, Simon Holmes, told Maidstone Magistrates last Tuesday that his client was “bitterly disappointed in himself and that he should have known better”.

The defence said Dunn, who works at the Isle of Sheppey Academy’s west site in Jefferson Road, Sheerness, feared the conviction would damage his reputation as a teacher and as a charity fundraiser.

He is involved with organising the annual Paul Trigwell Island run, held in memory of the former head teacher of St George’s Middle School in Minster. The next one is on Sunday, May 13.

Tony Broadrick, chairman of the bench, said the lengthy disqualification would be reduced by a quarter if Dunn agreed to undergo a drink driving awareness course.

He was fined £700 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge fee.

Mr Broadrick said: “It is extremely disappointing, considering all the work you do for charity in the community, that this error of judgment has come in.”