A DRIVER who was two and a half times over the legal alcohol limit has been banned from the road.

Richard Illingworth-Harrison, 34, of Sandileigh Avenue, Knutsford, pleaded guilty at Stockport Magistrates Court to having 86 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

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The defendant admitted being over the limit on November 14 last year, when the case was heard on January 10.

Illingworth-Harrison was driving a Lexus Hybrid car on Northwich Road in Knutsford when he was breathalysed.

The defendant’s guilty plea was taken into account when the sentence was imposed.

Magistrates issued a fine of £300 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and £34 victim surcharge.

He was also banned from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 18 months and his licence was endorsed.

The disqualification will be reduced by 18 weeks if the defendant satisfactorily completes a course approved by the Secretary of State.

Illingworth-Harrison was given permission by the bench to pay the £419 court penalty at a rate of £20 per week.