A MOTORIST who was still over the drink-drive limit the day after his grandfather’s funeral has been banned from driving.

Ben Kristian Walker, 22, appeared before York Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with drink-driving.

The court heard Walker, of Crabtree Grove, New Earswick, drove a Renault Megane down York Road, Strensall, at about 9.15am on November 11, and overtook two cars in the road, crashed into the kerb and burst two tyres, before his car came to rest on a roundabout.

Police were called to the scene and found Walker nearby, and a breathalyser test showed he was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit. His reading was 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

The court heard Walker passed a motorist who had CCTV cameras set up in his vehicle, and who provided footage of the incident to the authorities. Walker had been co-operative in interview, the court heard. He pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence. His solicitor Julian Tanikal said his client had been at his grandfather’s funeral the previous day, and was still over the limit when the incident occurred. Mr Tanikal said: “This is an unfortunate situation he finds himself in.

“He was upset, perhaps distraught would be the best way of describing it, as he and his grandfather were very close.”

Mr Tanikal also told the court Walker was on a short break from his job as a cable puller, where one of his responsibilities was driving teams to jobs around the country.

Although his employers accepted the offence would lead to a driving ban, Mr Tanikal said they had agreed to take him back, with changes to pay and duties.

Magistrates banned him from driving for 18 months, but gave him the opportunity to take a drink-driving rehabilitation course which will reduce the sentence.

Walker was also fined £110, and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £20 victim surcharge.