AN Eden Valley forestry firm owner was found to be drink-driving after police spotted his vehicle tax had expired.

Michael Richardson, 29, was heading home to Brougham, near Penrith, on the A66 in a Toyota Hilux just after 11pm on November 3 when officers pulled him over.

“The reason for the stop was expired tax,” prosecutor Lee Dacre told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court.

Richardson provided a positive breath test and was arrested. The lowest evidential reading given at a Carlisle police station was 63 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

“There is no evidence of bad driving, there is co-operation with police throughout and he has no previous convictions to trouble the court with,” said Mr Dacre.

In court, Richardson admitted a drink-driving charge.

Defence lawyer Steven Marsh, mitigating, said Richardson was a single man with no dependants who owned a forestry business which undertook work for a large local company.

He had been in business for five years, had one employee and three sub-contractors. Richardson worked at sites throughout the north of England.

“Obviously a full licence is essential to him. He tells me he has been doing 1,000 miles a week,” said Mr Marsh.

Before the police stoppage, Richardson had been to a nearby pub with a friend. “He had a meal and, during the course of that, he says he consumed some three pints of beer,” said Mr Marsh.

“In view of his driving licence being essential he wouldn’t have done that normally. He can’t explain why on this occasion he had those three pints.

"He didn’t feel affected by it and decided to drive home to Brougham.”

Mr Marsh told the court: “He has learned his lesson.”

Richardson was banned from driving for 17 months by magistrates who offered a rehabilitation course. If successfully completed, this will reduce his disqualification by 17 weeks.

Magistrates also imposed a £230 fine plus costs.