A MOTORIST convicted of drink driving for the third time has been handed a hefty ban.

Adam John Bickerstaffe was more than double the legal limit for alcohol when he was driving 'erratically' on the way out of Barrow, a court heard.

The 32-year-old driver was reported to the police by a member of the public when he was driving his Audi on Abbey Road on March 19.

The motorist pleaded guilty to drink driving when he appeared before South Cumbria Magistrates' Court.

Prosecutor Peter Kelly said: "Police received information from a member of the public about some concerning driving that was taking place in the town.

"At about 5pm a white Audi A6 was being driven erratically on Abbey Road towards Dalton.

"Police were able to see the vehicle and pulled it over.

"He was asked to provide a specimen of breath at the roadside that proved to be positive."

Mr Kelly told magistrates Bickerstaffe had 79 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than double the legal limit of 35.

He said the motorist was convicted of similar offences in January 17 and October 2011.

"It's his third conviction in the relevant 10 year period," Mr Kelly said.

The court was shown dashcam footage in which Bickerstaffe's Audi appeared to overtake a vehicle at the traffic lights on Abbey Road, close to Furness General Hospital.

The driver, of Kingsland Road in Millom, was represented in court by Trystan Roberts.

The solicitor said: "He's shown an enormous amount of remorse.

"When he was stopped by the police he's admitted straight away that he was the drive of the vehicle. He's not prevaricated in any way.

"I have to accept the unacceptable standard of driving."

Mr Roberts said the defendant had made a 'foolish' decision to see his grandfather, who recently moved to a care home, but instead the driver turned around and returned home.

Magistrates sentenced him to 120 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for four years.