A man who skipped bail two years ago after he was caught drink driving finally appeared before magistrates yesterday to be sentenced. Matthew Wilkinson, 26, failed an alcohol breath test in May 2004 when he was stopped by police officers in King's Lynn.

A man who skipped bail two years ago after he was caught drink- driving appeared before magist-rates yesterday to be sentenced.

Matthew Wilkinson, 26, failed an alcohol breath test in May 2004 when he was stopped by police officers in King's Lynn.

He was ordered to appear at Lynn Magistrates' Court the following month but never materialised.

The father-of-two was yesterday banned from driving for 20 months and ordered to pay £355 in fines and costs.

Susanna Chowdhury, prosecuting, said Wilkinson had failed a breath test after he was stopped in Norfolk Street.

The forklift truck driver has no previous history of drink-driving and magistrates were told he had stayed out of trouble over the last two years.

George Sorrell, mitigating, said: "He has an unhappy past history up to 2003 when he led a life tainted by drugs and bad behaviour.

"Since then, events have taken a turn and he now has two children, a one and two year old.

"He now recognises the meaning of the phrase the long arm of the law."

Wilkinson, of Pandora, Fairstead, was fined £50 for failing to surrender to bail and £260 for drink driving by Lynn magistrates. He was also ordered to pay £45 in costs.