A west Cumbrian man has been banned from the roads after he was found driving while twice the drink-drive limit.

Gavin Daniel Benson, 35, of Herdus Road, Whitehaven, admitted the offence when he appeared before magistrates sitting at the Workington court on Friday.

The court heard that on July 4, Benson was driving a Range Rover on Foxhouses Road in Whitehaven, after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath was 71mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Benson was disqualified from driving for 17 months.

The ban is obligatory for the type of offence.

However if he successfully completes a drink-driving rehabilitation course, his ban could be reduced by 17 weeks.

The course, costing £250, must be completed by July of next year.

Benson was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and £34 victim surcharge.