Police stopped a car being driven through Bentham without one of its tyres and found the driver was over the legal alcohol limit, Skipton magistrates were told.

Philip Middleton, 25, was driving his MG ZR on Grasmere Drive, Bentham, at around 1.15am on December 17 when police were alerted by the loud rumbling noise made by one of his car’s wheels, the court heard.

Middleton, of Burnmoor View, Ingleton, was stopped, a roadside breath test proved positive and he was taken to Skipton Police Station where he was found to have 89 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Middleton, who admitted drink-driving, was a student nurse who in addition to various placements was a “bank” nurse at a hospital accident and emergency unit, the court was told.

He had gone out for the evening in Bentham thinking he would stay with a friend, but it had not been possible and he had decided to drive home, believing he was able to drive.

He was banned from driving for 22 months and fined £180 with costs of £85 and a victims surcharge of £20. If he completes a drink drivers rehabilitation course by April, 2015, his ban will be reduced by a quarter.