A 26-YEAR-OLD has been banned from driving for 15 months and fined more than £300 for being over the limit.

Katie Atkinson, of St Michaels Way in the Addingham area of Bradford, appeared at Skipton Magistrates' Court last Friday (April 22).

She was charged with driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level is above the limit.

Atkinson pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced on the same day.

The 26-year-old was driving an Audi A3 on The Avenue, in the Overdale Residential Park, in the Skipton area on April 3 this year.

Atkinson was found to be over the prescribed limit of alcohol, blowing a reading of 54 micrograms (mg) of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath during a breathalyser test.

The legal limit for drivers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 35mg per 100 millilitres of breath.

Atkinson was disqualified from driving for 15 months, but this could be reduced by 15 weeks if the 26-year-old satisfactorily completes a course approved by the Secretary of State by February 7 next year.

The course will not cost more than £250, according to court records.

Atkinson was also ordered to pay £466 to the court.

This included a £346 fine, a surcharge of £35 to fund victim services and £85 in costs.

The balance must be paid by May 20 this year.

Atkinson's guilty plea was taken into consideration by the court when sentencing.