A WOULD-be Royal Marines officer put his future job prospects in jeopardy by driving while twice the drink drive limit, York Magistrates’ Court heard.

Laurence Peter Keyworth’s friend was reluctant to leave his car in Selby when the pair went to Mac- Donald’s drive-by store at Three Lakes Retail Park, Bawtry Road, Selby, after work on August 17, Nick Adlington, defending, said.

So Keyworth, 22, decided to drive the car even though he was twice the legal limit and his friend was under the drink-drive limit.

District judge Adrian Lower said: “It was a very foolish decision. You have put your future prospects of employment at risk.”

Katy Vowles, prosecuting, said police had been watching and stopped Keyworth. They had been called to the scene because Keyworth had been “causing concern” at the MacDonald’s.

A breath test gave a reading of 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Keyworth, of Winteringham near Malton, who is a third-year business studies undergraduate at Leeds Metropolitan University, pleaded guilty to drink driving and was banned from driving for 14 months.

He was fined £150 with a £20 statutory surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Mr Adlington said the Royal Marines wanted to know the result of the court case as soon as possible as Keyworth had “flown through” the recruitment tests.

“They want him as an officer,” said Mr Adlington.

He couldn’t afford to live in Leeds, so would have to commute to Leeds throughout his final year at university, which would be a constant reminder of his crime, the court heard