AN expectant father who panicked and drove to his pregnant partner on New Year's Day was over the drink drive limit, Skipton magistrates heard.

Jason Jones, 34, had had a drink with a meal but believed he was safe to drive when his partner called him, the court was told.

He was stopped by police at 8pm on Pinhaw Road in Skipton, after checks revealed his Ford Focus car was uninsured.

A roadside breath test proved positive and he was taken to Harrogate Police Station where he was found to have 63 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Jones, of West Lane, Keighley, who admitted drink driving and driving a car without third party insurance, was concerned for his partner because of difficulties with her first pregnancy, the court heard.

In mitigation, Jill Darrington said he had panicked after receiving a call from his partner and had jumped in the car to collect her.

The car had just been given to him and he had not yet had time to insure it, she added.

Miss Darrington said since the incident Jones had taken steps to address his drinking.

He was banned from driving for 18 months, fined £140 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £20. If he completes a drink drivers rehabilitation scheme, his ban will be reduced by 18 weeks.