A 71 YEAR old Skipton bar worker stopped by police on his way home from work was over the drink drive limit, heard magistrates.

Joseph Sharp, whose Renault Clio had a faulty back light, was stopped in Otley Road on August 28, and breathalysed after alcohol was smelt on his breath, heard the Skipton court.

He was taken to the police station where he was found to have 55 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Sharp, who admitted drink driving was a former publican and licensee who worked part time at the Three Links Club to supplement his and his wife's pensions, the court heard.

He had a clean driving licence, no previous convictions and there was no suggestion of bad driving, said prosecutor, Martin Butterworth.

In mitigation, Jill Darrington said he had calculated the two pints of Carling Lager he had consumed over the evening would not put him over the limit, but he had failed to take into account his medical condition.

She said he was mortified by what had happened and had now lost his ability to supplement his pension.

Sharp, of Straight Lane, Addingham, was banned from driving for a year and fined £200 with costs of £85 and surcharge of £30. If he completes a drink drive rehabilitation course, his ban will be reduced by a quarter.