A CARLISLE motorist serving his second drink drive ban has failed to persuade a judge to end it early to clear the way for his promotion at work.

Daniel David Rowley, 33, is serving a 38-month ban, the city's Rickergate court heard. His lawyer John Smith told District Judge John Temperley that the defendant, of Brookside, Raffles, was given his first ban in 2015.

At the time, said the lawyer, Rowley was working as a professional driver when he heard the announcement via news media that he was among a group of workers whose jobs were being axed.

He drank alcohol on New Year's Day and drove, being stopped on a road south of Carlisle.

He was banned for 18 months.

Rowley committed his second drink drive offence on April 24, 2019. "He'd been drinking the previous evening," said Mr Smith.

Stopped by police after officers were tipped off as he drove at lunchtime the next day, he was just over the drink drive limit, said Mr Smith. It was that offence which led to his current 38-month ban.

The lawyer then outlined how regaining his licence would allow Rowley to accept a promotion to the role of shift supervisor, giving him a bigger wage. The firm involved carried out random drink and drug tests, said Mr Smith.

The proposed new role required Rowley to drive on occasions to places such as Haltwhistle.

Asked about the opportunity, the defendant said: "It would be a hell of a lot more money and the promotion would keep me on the straight and narrow." But District Judge John Temperley refused the application.

He noted the most recent drink driving offence was the second in four years and despite his current ban Rowley was allowed to keep his job, albeit on reduced hours.

Of a suggestion that lifting the ban would help Rowley support his wife with childcare, the judge said the desired promotion would mean he was away from home for longer periods. While acknowledging Rowley had kept out of trouble since 2019 the judge said he was not persuaded the defendant had a good enough reason for an early termination of his ban.