A man who believed he was safe to drive after a party the night before, was over the drink drive limit, Skipton magistrates heard.

Nathan Ridehalgh, 27, was stopped by police at 1.25pm on July 29 as he drove along Shortbank Road, Skipton, the court heard yesterday.

He was found to have 51 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

Ridehalgh, who admitted drink-driving, had had a party at his house the night before, but believed he was safe to drive after lunchtime.

In mitigation, John Mewies said there was no indication that Ridehalgh had been driving badly, but had caught the attention of officers because he had not fastened his safety belt.

Ridehalgh, of Moorview Way, was banned from driving for 14 months and fined £110 with £95 costs. If he completes a drink drivers rehabilitation course his ban will be reduced by a quarter.