Man faces losing his job after driving ban (From Craven Herald)

Man faces losing his job after driving ban

9:00am Tuesday 7th August 2012 in News

An HGV driver stopped for not wearing a seatbelt was over the drink-drive limit, Skipton magistrates heard.

Peter Claughton, 55, had been for an end of work drink with his wife in Settle and was driving a short distance to buy fish and chips when he was stopped by the police in Church Street.

The officer smelled alcohol and a roadside breath test proved positive, the court heard on Friday.

He was taken to the police station where he was found to have 54 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Claughton, who admitted drink driving on July 5, worked as an HGV driver for a Settle firm and had been told to expect to lose his job if he was banned from driving.

In mitigation, John Mewies said Claughton, who had a clean driving licence, would struggle to get another job.

Claughton, of Bridge End Yard, Settle, was banned for 15 months and fined £250 with £85 costs and a £15 victims surcharge.

If he completes a drink drivers rehabilitation course costing £165 by May next year, his ban will be reduced by a quarter.