A lorry driver got out of his cab with the intention of spending a penny and now faces bankruptcy.

Martin Ramsden, of Queens-bury, was answering the call of nature on the hard shoulder of the M1 when he was stopped by police, a Court was told.

A traffic officer smelled alcohol on his breath and an on-the-spot test confirmed the 37-year-old was twice over the legal limit.

Ramsden, of Oxford Close, Ambler Thorn, Queensbury, pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Barnsley Magistrates Court yesterday.

He was banned from driving for 20 months, fined £275 and ordered to pay £55 costs. The court heard Ramsden now faces bankruptcy. When he told his Leeds-based bosses about the drink-drive charge they sacked him on the spot.

In mitigation, Lynn Barker said the divorced father-of-three would not be able to maintain his children or ever drive a heavy goods vehicle again.

She added he now expected being made bankrupt and faces a long period of unemployment.

The court was told Ramsden has a large number of debts, including several finance agreements and cash owing from his previous courier business.

Ramsden was driving along the southbound carriageway of the M1 at Worsborough, Barnsley, when he parked up to relieve himself.

Because of the unusual time, 12.10am, traffic officers from Barnsley Police thought the lorry may have broken down and went to offer their help.

Ms Barker told the court Ramsden had drunk around five pints of beer at lunchtime before going home to bed.

She said: "This offence has cost him dear. He was employed full-time. He's very remorseful, bitterly regrets it and can't believe he has been so stupid."

Passing sentence, stipendiary magistrate Michael Rosenberg said Ramsden had lost just about everything.

Sergeant Andy Noble, of Barnsley traffic police, said today: "It is unusual for HGV drivers to be caught for drink-driving because they are professionals. It is not the kind of standard you expect from them."

Ramsden was unavailable for comment at his Queensbury home last night.

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