A DRINK driver caught red handed outside a Cumbrian police station told a court he is battling cancer for the second time in four years.

Ryan Brown, 32, who was just under twice the drink drive limit when he was caught in Appleby on April 19, admitted drink driving.

He told magistrates, sitting at Carlisle’s Rickergate court, that a surgeon will next week amputate part of his lower leg in an attempt to halt the spread of his bone cancer.

Peter Kelly, prosecuting, outlined how police were called at around 7.30pm on April 19 with a report that there was concern over how a white van was being driven in the town.

As an officer was driving out of the town’s police station car park to fine the van, he by chance immediately encountered it outside the station.

“The driver of the van parked ten yards down the road and the officer spoke to him,” said Mr Kelly.

“He told him that he’d been out for a meal and had two pints of alcohol. He provided a specimen of breath at the roadside and it proved positive.”

The reading confirmed the defendant had 54mcg of alcohol in 100mls of breath.

The legal limit is 35mcg.

Mr Kelly added: “The defendant is a man of previous good character and he was cooperative with the police.”

Addressing the court, Brown said: “I am just sorry for my recklessness.

“I’ve shown a massive amount of remorse. It’s very much out of character for me to commit and offence like this.

“It definitely won’t happen again. I don’t drink excessively at all. For a second time, I’ve been diagnosed with bone cancer in four years.

"This thing has hit me.

"I'm due in hospital next week to have a lower leg amputation to stop it spreading.

"But it doesn’t excuse my recklessness on April 19, so I do apologise for that.”

A self-employed courier, Brown agreed to take the drink driver’s rehabilitation course, though he added that he would be out of action for some time due to his operation.

Magistrates fined him £120, with a £30 surcharge, and £85 costs.

They also imposed the minimum driving ban of one year, though this will be reduced by three months if Brown completes the rehabilitation course in the required time.