A FORMER brewery director yesterday lost his appeal against a jail sentence for two offences of-drink-driving.

It was pleaded that David Beecroft, 41, had suffered extra punishment by being sacked as a £68,880-a-year director of Castle Eden Breweries over the offences and could lose his share of a £4m takeover.

A judge and two magistrates at Teesside Crown Court supported the jail penalty imposed last week by justices at Richmond, North Yorkshire.

But the four-month prison term was reduced to three months in view of the heavy financial price he had paid for drink-driving.

Beecroft, of Mill Lane, Richmond, was three times over the alcohol limit when found slumped over the wheel of his Toyota Landcruiser at Skeeby, near Richmond, on March 1.

He admitted drink-driving again on June 22 in Richmond.

Tim Roberts, for Beecroft, said: "His problems arose from social and business drinking. He is now placed in a cell with an armed robber."

Recorder Michael Moorhouse told Beecroft, who was business development manager at the brewery, near Peterlee, in County Durham: "The public must he protected from people like you."

The company has denied claims it is facing a takeover bid.