A SKIPTON man who made a late night shopping trip to the town's Tesco was over the drink drive limit, heard magistrates.

Derek Carolan, 39, went shopping at 12.20am on June 9 but was unable to pay because he had not enough money, the Skipton court was told.

He left to get more, but in the meantime the member of counter staff who had served him and had smelt alcohol spoke to a police officer who happened to be in the store at the time.

Carolan had driven off, but returned shortly later when he was questioned by the officer, the court heard. He provided a positive breath test and was taken to the police station where he was found to have 67 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Carolan, who admitted drink driving, was of previous good character.

He had made three journeys of around a quarter of a mile before being arrested and the roads were relatively quiet at the time.

A self employed joiner, he would lose his job and as an Irish driving licence holder was likely also to be banned from driving in Ireland.

Carolan, of Romille Street, was banned from driving for 18 months and was fined £140, with costs of £85 and surcharge of £30. If he completes a drink drivers rehabilitation course, his ban will be reduced by 18 weeks.