An agricultural contractor from Burley-in-Wharfedale who was forced to drive home following a night out in Threshfield was more than twice the drink-drive limit, heard Skipton magistrates.

Richard Lockyer, 24, described in court on Friday as a hard-working man with two jobs, had been out with work colleagues and had planned to stay overnight before driving home to Burley-in-Wharfedale, but during the evening, there was a argument between his colleagues and another group, which ended up with him having nowhere to stay, the court was told.

Lockyer, who admitted drink-driving on January 19, was stopped in Otley Road, Skipton, at around 1.30am on his way home. He provided a positive road side breath test and was taken to the police station where he was found to have 92 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

In mitigation, John Mewies said Lockyer, faced with spending the night in his Transit van, made the foolish decision to drive home and was stopped by police, possibly because they thought it odd that a van was being driven in the early hours.

Mr Mewies said Lockyer, through no fault of his own, had been abandoned following a set of circumstances that he had nothing to do with. He said Lockyer, a hard-working man with no previous convictions, who also worked as a joiner, would lose his licence.

Magistrates told Lockyer, of Peasborough View, Burley-in-Wharfedale that he had suffered a painful lesson due to circumstances not entirely in his control and told him he would receive the minimum length of ban possible against the level of alcohol.

He was banned for 23 months and fined £350, with costs of £85 and victims surcharge of £35. If he completes a drink drivers rehabilitation course by May 29, 2015, his ban will be reduced by 23 weeks.