The owner of a Carlisle takeaway was caught drink-driving after police stopped him just yards from where he had set off.

Raju Chhetry, 37, was stopped on May 5, when police officers noticed that he was driving his Volkswagen Golf slowly in the area of Close Street in the city.

Chhetry was described by his defence lawyer Chris Toms as “perfectly pleasant” and “not a man who drinks normally”.

The dad-of-two, who lives in Howe Street with his wife, pleaded guilty to the offence. The city’s Rickergate magistrates’ court heard that he was caught driving with 64mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The legal alcohol limit for driving is 35 mcg.

Prosecutor Pam Ward described the circumstances surrounding Chhetry’s arrest.

She said: “The offence came to light just before midnight. He was driving slowly in the area of London Road.”

Mrs Ward said that throughout his involvement with the police, the defendant was cooperative and respectful with the officers who dealt with him.

“He said he knew he’d had a drink,” said the prosecutor.

“He has no previous convictions.”

Mr Toms, for Chhetry, said: “He came to the UK in 2003.

“He owns a takeaway on London Road.”

He continued: “He asked me if he could drive one hour a day to continue working for his business.

“He has two children under the age of three, and his wife doesn’t drive, so everything would have to be done on foot.

“Luckily they live somewhere where they can do most things on foot.”

Mr Toms added: “At the end of his shift at work he had a few drinks because he had a stressful day and he drove home.

“He is not a man who drinks normally, which is why the alcohol affected him.”

Chhetry was fined £383, told to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £38 to fund victim services.

Sentencing the 37-year-old, presiding magistrate Margaret Robb told the defendant: “We have also disqualified you from driving for 17 months, which is the least within the legality we need to work within.”

Magistrates offered Chhetry the drink drivers’ rehabilitation course. If he completes it by April 23 next year, his ban will be reduced by 17 weeks.

*A previous version of this wrongly stated that Raju Chhetry was the owner of the Gurkha Spicy takeaway on London Road, Carlisle. He had worked there, but is not - nor has ever been - its owner. We apologise for this error and any upset caused.