A VINTAGE aircraft pilot's attempt to rescue his stranded girlfriend in his car ended in disaster - with the car written off, the couple injured, and a court appearance.

Peter Gosling, a 52-year-old pilot at Sheffield Airport's Yorkshire Vintage Flying School, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Michael Hammond, prosecuting, told the court how his Mercedes had hit a tree on a country lane on the outskirts of Ripon on September 5.

Gosling and his 19-year-old passenger, Kerry Lamb, were both injured with Ms Lamb sustaining a broken arm and leg. Witnesses told police the car had gone too fast into a right-hand bend.

Gosling, who at the time was living in Middleton Lane, in nearby Melmerby, told the court he had since moved to Rotherham.

Mr Hammond said because Gosling had been injured, he did not give a breath sample.

Five hours after the collision, a blood sample showed his alcohol level was 93 milligrammes compared with the legal limit of 80.

Defence solicitor David Ake said the accident had had disastrous consequences for Gos-ling who would lose his job at the vintage flying school. He had also lost his car, which had been written off.

He said that Gosling had had a couple of glasses of wine some hours before the accident and had a drink with a colleague before going home and putting his car away for the night.

He had then received a phone call from his girlfriend who was stranded at Ripon bus station. He went to collect her and they were on their way back when he misjudged the tightness of a bend.

Gosling was fined £170 with £69 costs and banned from driving for a year.