A VAN driver was left unemployed after being caught behind the wheel while over the alcohol limit in the wake of a birthday trip away.

Terry Kitching, aged 62, of Pembroke Place, Penrith, came to the attention of police in the town at 10.48am on Sunday, October 20.

Prosecutor Jackie Partington told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court: “Officers observed a vehicle on Scotland Road in Penrith.

“They conducted a stop check, following the vehicle into a BP garage, and approached the driver, who was Mr Kitching.

"They noticed a smell of alcohol.”

Kitching failed a roadside breath test and was taken to Kendal police station. An evidential sample showed 60 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

In court Kitching admitted drink-driving. The prosecutor told magistrates he had a previous excess alcohol conviction which dated back to 2016.

Giving mitigation, Kitching told magistrates he had completed a rehabilitation course following that earlier offence which, he said, was “very, very interesting”. And as a result, he had bought himself an alcohol breath tester which he spoke of using “every single Sunday morning”.

“My occupation was a full-time van driver, self-employed, working 13 hours a day,” he explained.

Prior to being stopped by police, Kitching said he had been away for his birthday.

“I forgot to take it,” he said of the alcohol tester. “I just blow into it. It’s brilliant. Well, it is until you don’t have it.”

Kitching agreed with a court legal advisor’s suggestion that it had been “lesson learned”.

“I’m unemployed,” he added. “I’ve already sold my van. I sold it last night.”

Kitching said he would like to repeat the drink-drive rehabilitation course which was offered to him by magistrates as part of his latest sentence.

He was fined £120, ordered to pay other court costs and given a 36-month driving ban for committing a second drink-related motoring offence within 10 years. This will be reduced by 36 weeks if he successfully completes the course.