YORK boxing legend Henry Wharton was so drunk when police caught him at the wheel of his car that he stumbled out and pleaded with officers to take him home, Selby magistrates heard today.

Wharton, 33, pleaded guilty to being almost two-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit and was banned from driving for two years.

Helen Dawson, prosecuting, said Wharton drove his H-reg Rover through the centre of Tadcaster after a night out drinking last Saturday.

Miss Dawson told magistrates: "At four minutes past midnight, two police officers were driving a marked police vehicle along York Road.

"They saw a red Rover driving towards them almost fully on to their side of the road. The police car had to take evasive action."

Officers then followed Wharton's vehicle as he drove into the bus station car park.

Miss Dawson said: "Wharton was just getting out of his car as officers approached.

"He almost fell over, was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred.

"He told officers, 'Can't you just take me home lads, I know I'm drunk.'" Wharton, of Steeton, near Tadcaster, was taken to Tadcaster police station and breathalysed. His alcohol content was found to be 84 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Rob Rodes, mitigating, said his client was not a drink-driver.

He said Wharton had earlier been drinking at a social event and had taken a taxi to and from the venue.

When his client returned home his wife informed him their child was ill.

He said: "His wife does not like driving at night, so he went out in the car to a garage to purchase some Calpol.

"He accepts the foolishness of his actions, but does not want to take an alcohol awareness course.

"He is not someone who drinks and drives, and he feels that would be false."

As well as the ban, Wharton was fined £400, with £55 costs.

Senior magistrate Tony Hargreaves said: "We have noted your comments about not wanting to take the rehabilitation course offered.

"May I remind you that if you drive while disqualified over the next two years, you could lose your liberty."

Mr Rodes said his client did a lot of charity work up and down the country, and a disqualification from driving would mean this work would suffer. He added that Steeton was a remote village and Wharton would have difficulty continuing to complete the level of charity work he was currently involved in.

Henry Wharton was a three-times world title challenger and British, Commonwealth and European super-middleweight champion. He retired in January 1999 before opening a fish and chip shop in Blossom Street, York.

Updated: 13:45 Friday, October 19, 2001