A dad who went on a drunken joyride around York on his five-year-old son's mini-motorbike was condemned as a "right fool" by magistrates.

The York bench was told how 22-year-old Jodie Linsdell was spotted by police riding along High Ousegate on the three-foot high Yamaha off-roader without lights or a helmet just after 3am one Sunday in November.

Prosecutor Jane Chadwick told the court: "A police officer gestured for him to stop but he swerved round him and continued on to Low Ousegate."

She said police pursued Linsdell, of Cosmo Avenue, Tang Hall, alongside the River Ouse until he was prevented from going any further by the cycle barriers at Scarborough Bridge.

When tested, he was found to have 83mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

He told police he had drunk between six and eight pints and described his actions as "stupid and silly".

Nick Darwin, mitigating, told the court: "Drinking and driving is always a stupid offence but this offence verges on the absurd."

He said Linsdell, a father of three whose girlfriend is currently seven months pregnant, had bought the bike for his five-year-old son to ride off-road.

He had been into town drinking and when he returned home decided to start the bike, which has a top speed of 15mph, and took it for a ride.He said his client had parked up and waited for the police to catch up at Scarborough Bridge when he heard sirens behind him.

Mr Darwin said: "He was very drunk and it was a very stupid thing to do."

Linsdell admitted riding the motorbike while drunk and without insurance.

Bench chairman Joan Visick told him: "You were a right fool, weren't you? You were two-and-a-half times over the limit but we are going to be fairly lenient in the circumstances."

Linsdell was given a 12-month driving ban and fined £150 with £55 costs.

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