Drink-drive ban and fine for alcohol campaigner

John Garton told the court he had been working in a pub during a festival and had been tasting the barrels before recklessly getting behind the wheel.

Garton, chairman of Stopping Trouble and Nighttime Disorder (Stand), pleaded guilty at Skipton Magistrates' Court to driving while over the legal limit.

The campaigner remains chairman of Stand until it is discussed at a committee meeting next week. Stand bans people from pubs for unruly and drunken behaviour.

He was stopped by police on May 2 this year and told the court he had been tasting barrels at the Skipton Waterway Festival after changing them and claimed he had only drunk one pint of "strong ale" in addition.

Following the hearing the campaigner said: "I have been punished by the court and have beaten myself up about what I did."

"The chairman of Stand is not a position of power, that is down to the licensees, the chairman just has the casting vote."

Caroline Midgley, prosecuting, said police saw Garton at 1.15am driving a Toyota Corolla and when officers spoke to him he admitted he had been drinking.

A roadside breath test came up positive and he was taken to the police station where he was found to have 92 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35.

Garton, 42, who was not represented in court, said he wanted to apologise for wasting court and police time.

Magistrates banned Garton, of Skipton, for two years and fined him 230.

The campaigner was also ordered to pay 80 costs and a 15 victims' surcharge.

If he completes a drink-driver's rehabilitation course, costing 250, by August 2012 his ban will be reduced to 18 months.