A bus driver was forced to say “Goodbye” to his career of more than 15 years after being caught drink-driving.

David Wilkinson was more than three times over the legal limit when he got behind the wheel of his car late on April 23.

Kirklees magistrates heard that the impact of a conviction on the 40-year-old was ‘significant’.

They were told that the incident happened at Staincliffe Road in Dewsbury on April 23.

Police stopped his blue Kia Sedona for a routine vehicle check and found him to be unsteady on his feet when he got out of it.

Wilkinson, of Thorn Avenue in Thornhill, was arrested following a positive roadside breath test.

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Further police station breath tests showed that he had 116 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

This was more than three times over the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

Magistrates heard that Wilkinson had no previous convictions.

Staincliffe Road in Dewsbury

Mohammed Arif, mitigating, said that his client was on his way home from a friend’s barbecue when he was stopped and it was immediately clear that he had been drinking.

He told magistrates: “The impact of this conviction on the defendant will be significant.

“Because of this conviction there is no alternative for the company but to tell him where the door is.

“A stupid mistake has cost him significantly.

“He has been driving since the age of 17 and with his company for 15 years.

“He’s totally ashamed of his actions.”

Magistrates ordered a report from probation staff before sentencing him.