(Image source from: BBC)

An Indian origin director of British sportscar company Group Lotus has been banned from driving for a year after being caught drink-driving on the roads of Norwich in the East Anglia region of England.

Uday Senapati, who appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court charged with driving while over the legal alcohol limit earlier this month. He is the product strategy and managing director for the Norfolk-headquartered sports car company behind models like Evora and Elise.

"You cannot see someone who works for a world famous motor company not being able to drive. They [Lotus] seem to be able to make arrangements to keep him on," his attorney Simon Nicholls told the court.

The court heard that Senapati had been on a night out with friends which had gone on later than planned. Before getting a taxi home, he decided to move his car to a car park to avoid a parking ticket the next day.

He was stopped by police as he tried to drive his black Volvo XC60 into the car park and was arrested after failing a breath test and taken to Wymondham police station in Norwich.

"He had the best intentions - it's good mitigation but it's not a defense. It was more than just a few feet," Nicholls said.

Senapati was found to have 63 micrograms of alcohol in 100 milliliters of breath, more than twice the legal limit of 35, during the incident on February 15.

The 40-year-old admitted drink driving and was banned from driving for 12 months and fined 1,850 pounds.

He has also been directed to pay 85 pounds towards legal costs and 170 pounds surcharge, besides undertaking a compulsory course for drink drivers. As part of his job, Senapati is responsible for signing off on new car models.

He took charge at the British sportscar maker earlier this year and is a qualified automotive engineer, specializing in automotive refinement, aerodynamics and vehicle engineering.

By Sowmya Sangam