A WORKER who drove to a nuclear site while over the alcohol limit told a court he had been out watching football and drinking beer the night before.

Kieran Gibson, 31, was stopped by police who were conducting roadside checks on the main gate to Sellafield, as part of a campaign to tackle drink-driving at Christmas.

Gibson was driving a pick-up van to Sellafield on the morning of December 13 when he was asked to provide a breath sample, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said Gibson provided readings of 37 and 36mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, which were only just over the legal limit of 35mcg.

Gibson was arrested for driving with excess alcohol and was taken to the police station, where he gave a reading of 42mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The defendant pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle with alcohol level above the limit.

Gibson, who was not legally represented in court, said: “I went out to watch the football the night before and had a few beers.

“I got up the next morning. I felt perfectly fine. I drove the van to work with my friend. It wasn’t as if I was driving carelessly.”

When asked how a driving ban would affect him, Gibson told magistrates that he ‘works all over the country’.

Gibson of Pannal Close, New Marske, Redcar, was banned from driving for 14 months. He was offered the drink-driving rehabilitation course which would reduce his ban by 14 weeks.

He was fined £900 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £360 surcharge to fund victim services.