A graphic designer drove drunk after attending a networking event to promote his business.
Andrew Finnerty was more than twice the legal limit when he was stopped by police as he headed home from the event in Huddersfield.
He pleaded guilty to drink-driving when he appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard that police spotted the 22-year-old’s Volkswagen Golf in the early hours of October 23.
He was driving along Huddersfield Road in Dewsbury when they stopped his vehicle.
Prosecutor Jill Seddon said that Finnerty was driving very closely behind their vehicle before passing them and speeding up.
Finnerty, of Meadow Bank in Dewsbury Moor, was arrested and provided a blood sample.
This showed that he had 167 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The court heard that Finnerty ran his own graphic design company called Icreatives and had to attend appointments across the country.
On the day of the incident he had been at a local networking event to try and generate new business and had drunk some alcohol.
District Judge Michael Fanning told him that he had taken a huge gamble in driving. He said: “The bottom line is people who drink and drive often kill and maim others.
“Taking that sort of risk is never acceptable.”
Judge Fanning banned Finnerty from driving for 22 months. He also has to pay £250 fine, £85 costs and £25 victim surcharge.
