BUILDING site worker Ian Stannard yesterday admitted a fourth drink-driving offence.

Stannard, 40, of Brecksfield, Skelton, York, pleaded guilty at Harrogate Magistrates' court to driving after consuming nearly three times the legal alcohol limit - following similar offences in 1987, 1989 and 1994 - and to making off without payment for petrol.

The court heard he had pushed a car from a filling station forecourt to avoid paying for fuel.

He also admitted two offences of driving without insurance, two of not having a licence and one of not having an MOT certificate.

Stannard was put on probation for a year and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid community work. A three-year driving ban was imposed with costs of £50 and compensation of £35.

Simon Ostler, prosecuting, said that on June 16, Stannard had filled a Vauxhall Cavalier with petrol at Tesco at Clifton Moor, York and then pushed it from the forecourt to jump start it.

The court also heard that in the early hours of August 31, Stannard had been spotted driving a Ford Fiesta erratically in York Place, Knaresborough, and a breath test showed an alcohol level of 104 microgrammes when the legal limit is 35.

Clive Farndon, mitigating, said when Stannard left the filling station without paying he had been with colleagues but none of them had the money to refuel a car which was running on empty.

Referring to the drink driving charge, Mr Farndon said Stannard had been working in the Knaresborough area and after a night out with friends he decided to drive to get some food.

He said Stannard hoped to go from court to a building site ten minutes walk from his home to begin a new job