A DRIVER who pulled in front of a motorcyclist in Skipton, causing an accident, had been drinking, heard magistrates.

Claire Gamble, 43, set off in her black Clio from Burnside Crescent, causing the motorcyclist to take evasive reaction, the Skipton court was told.

A car behind the motorcycle then collided with it, and both rider and pillion passenger came off.

Despite attempts to keep Gamble at the scene, she drove off and went home, where she was found by police half an hour later, the court heard.

Gamble provided a positive road side test for alcohol and was taken to the police station where she was found to have 63 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Gamble, of Bennett Street, Skipton, a woman of previous good character, admitted to drink driving on April 9.

In mitigation, the court was told Gamble had recently lost her job after working all her life. She had never been in court before, it had been entirely out of character and she recognised the seriousness of her actions.

She was banned from driving for 17 months and fined £120 with costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30. If she completes a drink drivers rehabilitation course, her ban will be reduced by 17 weeks.