A DRINK driver on his way home after stocking up on alcohol drove into a lamp post and two parked cars before walking off, heard Skipton magistrates.

Police eventually found Peter Robinson, 62, in his garden shed in Skipton, more than three times over the limit and surrounded by empty cans of 'super strength' lager.

The court heard it was 6.40pm on February 2 when a 999 call had been made after an 'intoxicated' male had struck a lamp post and two cars on Broughton Road.

The witness described seeing the driver - later identified as Robinson - reversing back and forth in his Mitsubishi Shogun between the lamp post and into oncoming traffic, causing other vehicles to swerve out of his way.

He then drove into Pendle Street, where he collided with two parked taxis before a member of the public reached into the car and removed the keys from the ignition.

Nadine Clough, prosecuting, said when told what he had done by the witness, he replied he would pay for the damage, and asked that the police not be called.

The witness went to alert the owner of one of the vehicles, and took a picture of Robinson, who walked off.

Police went to Robinson's address in Bowling Terrace, off Broughton Road, where they found the house empty, but a number of empty cans of lager. In the abandoned car, they found two unopened bottles of wine.

On returning to Robinson's home, they found him in an outbuilding, and he admitted to drinking five cans of 'super strength' lager. after getting out of his car.

He was taken to the police station where he was found to have 116 of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Robinson, who admitted drink driving, failing to stop after an accident, and failing to report an accident, was an alcoholic who had started drinking again after 30 years, the court heard.

In mitigation, Andrew Tinning, said the retired engineer had been sober until recently when he had parted from his wife of several years.

Mr Tinning said police had been unable to find Robinson on their first visit because he had been drinking in his shed, and although the high reading had included drinking after driving, he had not wanted to argue for a 'back calculation'.

Robinson had accepted he would have been over the limit anyway, said Mr Tinning.

He said Robinson had not drunk anything since the incident and was now back with Alcoholics Anonymous. He was also a full time carer for his mother, who lived nearby.

Magistrates banned Robinson from driving for 26 months and placed him under a 12 month community order, with up to 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days. If he completes a drink drivers rehabilitation course, his ban will be reduced by 26 weeks. He will also have to pay costs of £85 and surcharge of £85.