Richard Pope (24), of 252 Burnthouse Crescent, Upper Marham, appeared before the court on Monday charged with driving with excess alcohol on November 15 last year. After admitting the offence, he was banned from driving for a year, fined £210 and ordered to pay £55 costs.

Mr Kevin Eastwick, prosecuting, said police were called to the checkpoint at RAF Marham by security guards who believed Pope had been drinking and driving. A blood test showed he had 85 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The limit is 80.

James MacWhirter, for Pope, said his client was a senior aircraft technician in the RAF and signed up for nine years when he joined the service five years ago.

Pope was marginally over the drink- drive limit and Mr MacWhirter said: "It's a real shame we see him here today, a man of unblemished character with a clean driving licence."

He and his wife walked home after going to a local pub and then discovered his wife's bike appeared to have been stolen. "Without giving it a second thought, he jumped in his car to try to track down those responsible," said Mr MacWhirter.

As well as being punished by the court, Pope faced a formal reprimand from his station commander and loss of pay.