A 42-MONTH driving ban and a £400 fine have been imposed on a motorist who was caught driving while over the alcohol limit near to Penrith.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate Magistrates’ Court, Darren Gary Studholme, 32, from Eamont Bridge, Penrith, entered a guilty plea to the offence, which he committed on July 20.

The court heard that he had 74mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath when he was caught driving in the area of Southwaite Green Mill. The legal limit is 35mcg.

As well as imposing the fine and driving ban, magistrates ordered the defendant should pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £40 victim surcharge.

In passing the sentence, magistrates said they had reduced the defendant’s sentence to reflect his guilty plea. It is not known whether Studholme was offered the drink driver rehabilitation course, which if completed reduces the length of the ban.