A DRIVER who collided with another vehicle just before midnight on the A65 near Austwick was more than twice over the alcohol limit, heard Skipton Magistrates Court.

Jack Sankey, 30, swerved after seeing an oncoming vehicle close to the Austwick turn-off and collided with the rear of a 4x4, overturning his own Fiat Doblo and causing it substantial damage, the court was told yesterday (Friday).

The driver of the other vehicle, which was also damaged, pulled Sankey out of his car and kept talking to him until the police arrived, the court was told.

Sankey admitted to officers he had been drinking and went on to provide a positive roadside breath test. He was arrested and taken to the police station where he was found to have 85 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

He later told police he had been drinking at a pub for seven hours since the middle of the afternoon and claimed to have drunk eight pints.

He told police he had stopped drinking at 10pm, had initially had not intended to drive, but had changed his mind and decided to drive home to the flat in Settle he shared with his partner, the court was told.

He claimed he had been driving at about 55 mph when he had seen the lights of an oncoming vehicle, had turned his steering wheel and applied his brakes. The vehicle had turned onto its side and had collided with the rear of the other vehicle.

Self employed Sankey, of previous good character, admitted drink-driving on May 25, and also to driving without due care and attention.

In mitigation, John Mewies, said his client had given a full and frank admission to police. He was of impeccable character, his family came from Bentham and he lived nearby, in Settle.

“Before he became embroiled in the drinking spree he had thought he would not be driving home. He returned to his car to collect his mobile phone and to tell his partner he would not be returning home. Quite why he changed his mind is a matter he bitterly regrets,” said Mr Mewies.

Mr Mewies added the loss of his licence would impact on the couple’s horticultural business.

Sankey, of Bishopdale Court, Settle, was told by magistrates it had been a nasty accident that could have been much worse. He was banned from driving for 22 months and fined £308. He will also have to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30. If he completes a drink drivers rehabilitation course by September, 2020, his ban will be reduced by 22 weeks.

There was no separate penalty for careless driving, although his licence will be endorsed.