A DRINK driver with only a provisional licence was stopped by police in Skipton after he drove off without his headlights on, heard magistrates.

Mohammed Jaber Zamel, 33, was banned from driving for 22 months and ordered to pay £525 in fines and costs after admitting drink driving, driving without insurance and otherwise in accordance with a licence, all on September 27 last year.

Zamel, of Crofton Street, Manchester, was followed by a police officer after he drove his Corsa off the High Street setts at 2.50am without first turning on the headlights, the Skipton court heard.

He drove up the High Street and into Grassington Road before stopping outside Raikes Mill apartments, getting out and throwing the keys on the car bonnet.

Prosecuting, Alison Whiteley, said the officer grabbed hold of Zamel to stop him from leaving, and having smelt alcohol on his breath, carried out a road side breath test, that showed he had 101 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. He was arrested and taken to Harrogate Police Station where just over an hour later, he was found to have 85 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Zamel, speaking through an interpreter, said he had originally denied all the offences because he was at the time attempting to gain residency in the UK.

"I was worried if I pleaded guilty, it would have a negative impact on my residency," he said.

He was fined £250 and ordered to pay surcharge of £25 and costs of £250, after changing his plea to guilty on the day of his trial.