THE 20-year-old driver of a silver BMW was almost twice the alcohol limit when he was stopped by police, magistrates heard.

Police stopped Joshua Kilner in Low Bradley, between Skipton and Keighley, after seeing him negotiate at speed a roundabout near Skipton in the early hours of February 12, Skipton Magistrates Court heard on Friday.

He was stopped in Main Street, a roadside breath test was positive and he was taken to Harrogate Police Station where he was found to have 69 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Kilner, of previous good character, admitted drink-driving. The court heard in mitigation he had not intended to drive when he had headed out to Carleton for the evening with friends.

Mitigating, Keith Blackwell, said: "He had not intended to drive, but to get a taxi. But as the evening went on, that sensible decision went by the wayside."

Mr Blackwell said Kilner, a ground-worker, had come to the attention of police because of his speed. He had cooperated fully with police, he had not been involved in any accident, and was ashamed of what had happened.

Kilner, of Park Lane, Sutton-in-Craven, near keigley, was banned from driving for 18 months, fined £380 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £152. If he completes a drink-drivers rehabilitaiton course, his ban will be reduced by 18 weeks.