A DRIVER stopped on his way home to Malham after watching football at a pub in Gargrave was over the drink drive limit.

Timothy Zillessen, 58, had been reported to the police as a possible drink driver and was stopped just before 7pm on March 12 at Airton in his Landrover Defender, the court heard.

After telling officers he had drunk two pints of alcohol at The Masons Arms while watching football, he was taken to Harrogate Police Station where he was found to have 47 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Zillessen, who admitted drink driving, had one earlier conviction for drink driving and one for failing to provide a specimen for analysis, but both more than ten years ago, the court heard.

Zillessen, who was unrepresented in court, said he had honestly believed he had not been over the limit when he had set off driving.

He said he made a daily 40 mile commute to Catterick and that being unable to drive would impact on his family. Zillessen, of Malham Moor, was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £550 with costs of £85 and surcharge of £55. If he completes a drink drivers rehabilitation course, his ban will be reduced by 12 weeks.