A GARDENER is set to lose his job after driving home from a party after drinking.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard tolday that Francis Coop had only gone to the party to drop off a present but had been persuaded by friends to stay and have a drink.

He believed a member of the public tipped off the police and he was stopped by officers at his home in Station Court, Gainford.

A breath test revealed he was 15mg over the drink drive limit and he pleaded guilty to the offence in court.

Mitigating, Andrew Clinton said Coop had been driving for 40-years and never been in trouble with the law.

He said that he had only had a couple of drinks at the party and thought he would be within the legal limit to drive.

Magistrates also heard that the 69-year-old was certain to lose his gardening job at Headlam Hall as a result of the inevitable driving ban.

He was disqualified from driving for one year and ordered to pay a total of £253 in court fines and charges.