A FARMER was caught drink driving just hours after he was given worrying news at a hospital appointment in Carlisle.

Alexander Philip, 56, who runs a farm in Penton 17 miles north of the city, drank alcohol after being told he may have motor neurone disease - but he then drove home to feed his dogs.

He  admitted driving with excess alcohol.

At Carlisle's Rickergate court, prosecutor George Shelley said police were tipped off that a male who appeared to be drunk was seen driving away from the McDonald’s restaurant at Kingstown in north Carlisle at 10pm on Saturday, October 7.

He was seen “staggering” across the car park towards his Fiat Panda before driving away, said Mr Shelley. When police caught up with the defendant at Penton, a breath test confirmed he had 89mcg in every 100mls of breath.

The legal limit for driving is 35mcg.

“At 3.15pm on that afternoon, Mr Philip had been to a medical appointment at the hospital, organised by his doctor,” said Mark Shepherd, defending. Philip had been suffering from “significant symptoms.”

He was currently awaiting diagnosis and he had been told that the most likely outcome was that he has either multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, or MND (motor neurone disease).

“As a consequence of that, he and his partner had a drink together after the appointment, no doubt to block some of the thoughts going through his head,” continued Mr Shepherd.

They drank more after returning to their address in Carlisle when he realised that he had not fed his dogs at the farm.

“He decided to drive back,” said Mr Shepherd.

“He realises it’s something he shouldn’t have done but he wasn’t thinking straight on that particular day, for obvious reasons.”

When stopped by the police, Philip had cooperated fully and was remorseful.

What happened was truly out of character, said the lawyer.

Philip now faced the prospect of planning for the future of his farm, handing duties over to his son, but the nearest bus stop was three miles away.

“He’ll have to spend pretty much all of his time at the farm,” added Mr Shepherd.

District Judge John Temperley imposed a £300 fine and banned the defendant from driving for 18 months, but offered the drink driver rehabilitation course, which will reduce the ban by 18 weeks if completed by a deadline.

Philip must also pay a £120 victim surcharge and £85 costs. The judge offered the defendant sympathy for his medical issues but said this did not, of course, excuse what he had done.