A FATHER-of-three pleaded guilty to driving after drinking seven pints of lager.
Gareth Leach, 30, pleaded guilty yesterday at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court to driving a Ford Fiesta on June 16 on Grange Road, Staincliffe, Batley.
Alex Bozman, prosecuting, said the offence of driving while over the prescribed limit occurred in the early hours of that day. Another vehicle had been damaged in an accident.
When asked to give a specimen of breath Leach was found to have 96 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
He told police had been drinking in Bradford from lunchtime and had drunk seven pints of lager.
He had been in a works vehicle.
Representing himself, the defendant said: “It was an act of stupidity. It is not something I have done before and will ever do again. I have lost my job and all I can do is apologise.”
Leach, of Snowden Road, Bramley, Leeds, was sentenced to a community order of 12 months with 60 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £60.
He was disqualified for 24 months but was told this would be reduced significantly on the successful completion of an anti-drink drive course.
