A MAN who crashed through the window of a town centre furniture shop was more than three times the legal drink-drive limit.

Andrew Kevin Davis, 25, of Beverley Road, Norton, was followed by police as he drove through Malton on Saturday, June 14.

Prosecutor Vilma Vodanovic told Scarborough magistrates yesterday that officers on duty in Malton Market Place spotted a dark-coloured Rover being driven erratically at around 11pm.

"The officers followed the vehicle on to Market Street where they saw the vehicle bounce on to the opposite carriageway," she said.

They then saw Davis' car strike the nearside kerb and bounce across to the opposite carriageway as the car continued down Yorkersgate. At the corner of Yorkersgate and Railway Street the defendant's car veered across the road and smashed into a window at John Barber's Ltd.

A breath test recorded a reading of 109 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Brian Jepson, for Davis, said: "This particular offender had a split-up with his long-term girlfriend - he does not remember an awful lot about the incident," he said. "He does accept full responsibility for his actions and it was most out of character."

Davis pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was banned from driving for 30 months. He was given 18 hours community punishment, was ordered to carry out 12 months of community rehabilitation, and was ordered to pay £40 costs.

Updated: 10:53 Saturday, July 12, 2003