THE boss of a Settle haulage firm has been banned from driving by magistrates for 14 months after being caught drink driving.

Lee James Staveley, 41, had been to the funeral and wake of a close family friend in Skipton on February 3, heard Skipton Magistrates Court.

He had drunk 'four or five' pints during the day before setting off home to Giggleswick, stopping off at Gargrave on the way to pick up a takeaway, the court heard today (Friday).

While collecting the takeaway, he bumped into a friend and fellow haulier who had bought him another drink, although he had not drunk all of it, the court was told.

Police, after receiving information about a man who appeared to be intoxicated driving off from Gargrave in the direction of Settle, stopped him at about 8pm on the A65 at Long Preston.

He provided a positive roadside test and was taken to the police station where he was found to have 55 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Staveley, who admitted drink driving, had thought he was fit to drive, having been drinking over a long space of time, the court was told.

In mitigation, Andrew Woolfall, said Staveley was however fully aware of the impact on others as a result of his 'foolish actions'.

Mr Woolfall said Staveley was a self employed haulier running his own business which he had built up over many years.

He ran 20 vehicles and employed 27 people and although he did not do a great deal of HGV driving, he did drive 20,000 miles every year seeing clients.

He said the four to five pints he had drunk at the wake had been stretched out from between 1.30pm and 7pm and he had believed he was fit to drive.

"He realises the impact on others and is remorseful," said Mr Woolfall.

Magistrates, while giving Staveley full credit for his guilty plea, told him his behaviour had been' reckless and stupid'.

Referring to his business as a haulier, the bench chairman said: "You know more than anyone the dangers of drinking and driving. It was reckless and stupid behaviour."

Staveley, of Bankwell Close, Giggleswick, was banned from driving for 14 months.

He was also fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £50. If he completes a drink driver rehabilitation course by November this year, his ban will be reduced by 14 weeks.