A MOTORIST who drove when at least twice the drink-drive limit within weeks of finishing a ban for drink-driving is off the road for nearly four years.

A police spokesman said a member of the public alerted officers to Bekir Cetinkaya’s driving on June 3, but they were unable to catch him before he crashed into another vehicle, which had been stationary at the traffic lights at the end of Lendal Bridge, York.

A roadside breath test indicated he was three times the drink-drive limit. He was charged following a breath test at Fulford Road Police Station that gave a reading of 81 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

It was the second time he had been caught drink-driving. He was banned for 12 months for the first offence in July 2016, and was only able to drive again because he had completed a drink-drivers’ rehabilitation course, which reduced his ban by 12 weeks.

Cetinkaya, 53, of Tostig Avenue, Acomb, pleaded guilty to drink-driving on June 3. York magistrates banned him from driving for 44 months and ordered him to do 100 hours’ unpaid work and 10 days’ rehabilitative activities and pay £170 in prosecution and other costs.

Traffic Sergeant Andy Morton, of North Yorkshire Police’s roads policing group, said: “It’s disappointing to see that some drivers do not learn their lesson and fail to comprehend the real danger that they place other road users and themselves in, when they choose to drink and drive. North Yorkshire Police remain committed to locating drivers over the limit and getting them off the road and we appreciate the support of the public with our campaign. Anyone with any information regarding a drink or drug driver should contact police on 101, or if it’s happening at the time, call 999.”