A 54-year-old who had downed seven double vodkas and then got behind the wheel has been banned from driving for 22 months.

David Allan Whitby appeared before Furness Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. (28)

Prosecutor Mr Lee Dacre said: "It was about 7.35pm on July 14.

"Police were called to the White Lion public house, Mount Pleasant, Barrow, after a report that the defendant had drunk seven double vodkas and had then been seen getting into his car.

"When the police arrived he was breath tested and found to be over the limit and as a result he was arrested and taken to Barrow police station."

Whitby, of Dundalk Street, Barrow, admitted driving a motor vehicle with alcohol above the limit. The charge says that on July 14 he drove a Vauxhall Insignia on School Street, Barrow, after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion in breath was 91 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath.

Miss Karen Templeton, defending, said: "This is a man of 54 who has never been in trouble before.

"He doesn't usually drink but he had been suffering from depression and had been drinking that day.

"It was his ex-partner who called the police and they have been having some ongoing disputes. He said he wasn't going to drive the car but was just moving it and it rolled back."

Magistrates fined him £100 and told him to pay a £150 criminal court charge, a £20 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. He was also banned from driving for 22 months.