A construction foreman has been banned from the road after drink-driving.
Martin Gray, of Factory Lane in Milnsbridge, believed that he was fine to get behind the wheel after drinking three pints.
But he was stopped after police spotted him driving away from the pub car park.
Yesterday, the 46-year-old’s solicitor told Kirklees magistrates that there was no safe limit when it came to drinking and driving.
Vanessa Schofield, prosecuting, said that the incident happened at 9pm in Halifax Road, Liversedge.
Police were carrying out routine checks on drivers when they saw Gray leaving the Old Pack Horse pub.
They stopped his vehicle to speak with him and could smell alcohol on his breath.
As Gray, gave a low reading in breath he was given the option of providing blood which he accepted.
His sample showed that he had 84 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
This was just over the legal limit of 80 mgs.
Gray pleaded guilty to driving whilst over the prescribed limit.
His solicitor Bob Carr described his client as ‘unlucky’.
He said: “He was very marginally over the limit and never drinks and drives.
“He’d gone to this pub, had over a long period of time three pints and then started on soft drinks.
“There’s no safe limit to drink and it would probably be better if the law was zero tolerance like it is in some countries.
“Then people wouldn’t gamble, like Mr Gray took a gamble and lost.”
Mr Carr added that Gray now faced an uncertain future with his employers of 22 years as his work required him to travel to different sites.
Magistrates banned Gray from driving for 12 months.
He was also ordered to pay £675 fine, £67 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
