A MAN has been convicted of drink-driving for the fourth time.

Simon Bates, who at Skipton Magistrates' Court on Friday admitted drink driving on Keighley Road, Skipton in March, had two previous convictions in 2004, 2009, and a third in Spain from 2014, the court heard.

He provided a positive roadside test on March 30 after being stopped on Keighley Road driving a Renault Twingo, and at the police station was found to have 49 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Bates, 58, told the court he was of no fixed abode, but had a 'care of' address in Skipton.

Mitigating, Mohammed Hussain said Bates, who used to work for the fire service, suffered from extreme anxiety as a result of some of the serious incidents he had attended.

Mr Hussain added Bates had been delivering medication to a friend when he was stopped by police.

Bates was banned from driving for 14 months, fined £120, and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £48.

Magistrates turned down his request to carry out a drink driver rehabilitation course which would have reduced his ban by 14 weeks.