A woman has appeared in court, charged with the unlawful killing of a Skipton hotelier.

Debbie Barker, 42, who appeared at Skipton Magistrates’ Court today, is accused of the unlawful killing of Tom Bannister at Carseylands Hill, Airton, sometime between June 20 and June 23 last year.

She has previously appeared in court charged with causing the death of Mr Bannister while driving without due care and while over the drink drive limit, of drink driving, and of failing to report an accident.

Barker, of Hellifield Road, Gargrave, is alleged to have been driving a Range Rover Vogue on Carseylands Hill on June 22 when she caused the death of Mr Bannister, formerly of The Coniston Hotel, while driving without due care and over the drink-drive limit.

She is accused of having a reading of 55 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 of breath, 20 microgrammes over the limit of 35, and of failing to report an accident, where injury was caused to Mr Bannister, as soon as practicable.

Barker, who was represented by her solicitor, Richard Ottley, entered no pleas yesterday and magistrates committed the case to Bradford Crown Court on March 14.