A MAN who has been a joiner for more than 20 years faces laying off workers after admitting drink-driving.
Andrew Field, of Hopton Lane in Mirfield, appeared before Kirklees magistrates yesterday.
Magistrates were told that the 39-year-old was stopped as he drove along Huddersfield Road in the town on November 9.
Police attended after they received an anonymous call about a potential drink driver on the road.
Self-employed Field was asked to provide a roadside breath test and this was positive.
Further police station tests revealed that he had 54 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
Magistrates were told that before the incident Field had no convictions and a full, clean driving licence.
Kathryn Watson, mitigating, said that on the day her client had the task of finalising his mother’s estate. He then arranged to meet his brother in the pub and drank a pint and a half of lager.
Miss Watson said: “He had not eaten that day but genuinely believed that he would be okay to drive and not be over the limit. He’s made the stupid decision to drive.”
Miss Watson added: “He employs three young lads who he will no longer be able to employ.”
Magistrates were told that Field would now struggle to pay his mortgage as well as see his young daughter.
Magistrates banned him for driving for 15 months and also ordered Field to pay £110 fine, £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge.
