A MOTORIST who crashed while under the influence only hours after the launch of this year’s anti drink-driving campaign has been banned from the wheel for 18 months.

John Bradbrook was driving in Sherburn-in-Elmet at about 7.35am on Saturday when his car went into a ditch in Fenton Lane.

Police carried out a roadside breath test, which showed the driver had 88 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than twice the legal limit of 35mg/100ml.

Traffic Sergeant Pete Stringer, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “This offender has lost his licence within a week of being caught and I hope that sends out a strong message to anyone else who thinks that drink-driving is acceptable.”

Bradbrook, 29, who is from the Leeds area, was also ordered to pay a £400 fine and £85 costs.