A MOTORIST who was nearly five times the drink drive limit has appeared before York Magistrates Court.

It was the third time Miroslaw Bialokozwicz had been caught drink driving, said Jane Chadwick, prosecuting.

"You should have learnt your lesson by now," district judge Adrian Lower told him. "It is a very high reading indeed."

He passed a 24-week prison sentence which he suspended for two years on condition Bialokozwicz does 250 hours' unpaid work, ordered him to pay a £128 statutory surcharge and £85 prosecution costs, and banned him from driving for five years.

For Bialokozwicz, Nicholas Darwin said he had argued with his partner after drinking heavily and had left the house intending to sleep in his car.

The district judge said Bialokozwicz had driven from the address and come back and a neighbour had called police because they were concerned by the state he was in.

A breath test gave a reading of 160 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Bialokozwicz, 45, of Grace Court, Darlington, admitted drink driving in Northallerton on October 23 and failure to attend court.