A MAN who had an argument with his mother at his home address, stormed out and drove his works van, despite being over the drink-drive limit.

Skipton magistrates were told Oliver Storah, 25, of Overdale Court, Skipton, had been approached by police at around 2am on January 8 on the A629 Keighley Road, northbound after his vehicle ran out of fuel.

He was arrested and found to have 88 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Defending John Ayre said his client had no previous convictions. He lived at home and wanted to branch out. He was self employed and worked for a builder. He gave most of his earnings to his parents who in turn were saving it for him for a deposit on a house.

“He apologises for the error and is contrite. He has learned a salutory lesson,” said Mr Ayre.

The court was handed a number of good character references including one from the builder he works for who regarded him ‘honest, reliable and valued’.

Magistrates disqualified Storah from driving for 22 months, fined him £400 and ordered him to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £40.

He was offered the change to take the drink-driving rehabilitation course to reduce his sentence by 22 weeks if completed successfully.