A van driver was caught behind the wheel at more than two times the drink-drive limit.

Kieran Troy Ewart, 25, was found inside a white Peugeot van parked in Brampton Road, Carlisle, in the early hours of March 27 with its engine running and him wearing his seatbelt.

Police smelt alcohol on the driver’s breath, District Judge Gerald Chalk was told at the magistrates’ court in Carlisle.

Ewart pleaded guilty to drink-driving. In a roadside breath test, he gave a reading of 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres.

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

The judge was told Ewart works for the family business and lives at The Beeches, Irthington. If he were banned from driving, it would cost him his job.

He had been for a few drinks with his girlfriend and some friends and was going to stay at their house, but the girlfriend didn’t want to stay, so he “foolishly” got in the van and drove off, the court was told.

Ewart was banned from driving for 18 months, fined £400 with court costs of £85 and a £40 victim surcharge.