A RETIRED bank manager stopped off for a drink on his way home to Hellifield, putting him over the drink drive limit, heard Skipton Magistrates Court.

Stanislaw Berkieta, 71, had been in London carrying out regular charity work and had stopped off at a pub just a short distance from his home, the court heard today (Friday).

Police, who had been given information about a suspected drink driver, caught up with Berkieta on Gisburn Road.

He provided a positive roadside breath test and was taken to the police station where he was found to have 66 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Berkieta, who admitted drink driving on August 8, had drunk more than he had intended when he stopped off following his long drive home from London.

Despite facing the loss of his licence, he intended to continue with his charity work, although it would now mean catching the train, the court was told.

He had only intended to have just one drink, but had ended up drinking two or three in the pub before driving 100 metres home, the court heard in mitigation.

Berkieta, of Gisburn Road, was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £300. He will also have to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £32. If he completes a drink drivers rehabilitation course, his ban will be reduced by 18 weeks.