A DRINK driver who ploughed his BMW into a shop window in Padgate causing £30,000 of damage has been told by top judges he cannot complain about his driving ban.

Lloyd Deakin, who was not present at the court hearing, was more than twice the legal alcohol limit when he ploughed into the Chinese Medical and Skin Centre on Padgate Lane.

The 23-year-old, of Rylands Drive, in Orford, was jailed for six months at Chester Crown Court in November after admitting dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.

He was also banned from driving for three years - timed to start following his release from prison.

Deakin, who has now served his sentence, challenged the ban at London's Criminal Appeal Court, with his lawyers arguing it was 'too long'.

But his complaints were rejected by three senior judges, who said the ban was designed to protect the public and could not be criticised.

Deakin had been out drinking in Showbar on Friars Gate in July last year, when he offered to give three people a lift home at about 2.30am.

One passenger said his driving was fine to begin with, but he then 'accelerated hard' and travelled at about 70mph, failing to slow down at a roundabout.

One of the women in the car had asked him to slow down and was terrified.

He then stopped at a petrol station to buy cigarettes and almost crashed into the pumps - leaving the woman 'shaking with fear'.

As he continued the journey, Deakin hit speeds of up to 80mph in a 40mph zone and went through two red lights.

He ignored repeated protests from the passenger and eventually lost control of the car on a right-hand turn – sending it careering into the shop window.

The damage to the shop costs £20,000 to £30,000 to repair and it had to stay closed for a week.

Deakin had no previous convictions and the court was told he had sold his car after the incident.

His lawyers said he was joint-owner of a firm which installs security cameras, which his business partner had kept going while he was in prison.

They argued that remaining banned from driving for so long would have a 'damaging effect' on his future prospects.

But, dismissing his appeal, Lord Justice Treacy said his livelihood wasn't under threat if he couldn't drive and that his ban was 'not excessive'.

Sitting with Mr Justice Jeremy Baker and Judge Eleri Rees QC, he added:

"When driving is necessary, that is done by his business partner.

"It was not submitted to us that the situation threatened the viability of the business or the security of this applicant's employment.

"The highest the matter was put was that the disqualification was an inconvenience which made conduct of the business more difficult.

"We consider that this was a particularly serious case which required a significant ban for the protection of the public.

"This was, after all, not only a case of inherently dangerous driving, but one committed in the context of a very high alcohol reading."