A VET caught over the limit on the A1 in North Yorkshire lost his licence, his job, and could lose his house, after he was convicted of drink-driving yesterday.

Magistrates in Richmond were told 39-year-old Paul Guckian had been suffering from depression since discovering his mother was gravely ill, and had stopped during a car journey for a meal in a pub when he was informed by phone that her condition was deteriorating.

However, he had drunk five pints by the time he got back behind the wheel, and was stopped on the southbound carriageway of the A1 at Leeming when police noticed his car being driven slowly and erratically.

Keith Haggerty, in mitigation, said Guckian, of Church Lane, Ripon, North Yorkshire, was driving slowly as his car was low on fuel and he was trying to conserve what was left so he would not run out before he reached the next garage.

Guckian admitted he was almost twice over the legal drink-drive limit when he was stopped on May 25, and was fined £400 with £40 costs and banned from the roads for 16 months.

However, Guckian agreed to join a rehabilitation scheme for drink-drivers, which will reduce his ban by four months if completed.

Mr Haggerty said Guckian had already been warned a ban would mean dismissal from his job and, as his income would drop dramatically, the family would have to sell their Ripon home they bought only a few months ago.

Mr Haggerty added that Guckian is due to have counselling to help with his depression within the next few days.