Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares ruined the life of chef Tim Gray, a court heard.

Gray was working at Bonapartes restaurant in Silsden when it was savaged on Gordon Ramsay's hit television series three years ago.

He claimed the adverse publicity had indirectly led to him drink-driving.

Skipton magistrates heard that Gray, 25, of Moorside Avenue, Eastburn, had wept in front of officers at Skipton Police Station and repeatedly claimed that the television programme had ruined his life.

Prosecutor Mark Haigh said Gray was stopped by a police officer as he drove along Water Street, Skipton, without any lights at around midnight on May 13.

A roadside breath test proved positive and he was taken to Skipton Police Station where he was found to have 72 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Mr Haigh said half-an-hour earlier Gray had gone to the police station where he had reported being assaulted by three men in the Breeze Bar, in Skipton.

Gray was unsteady on his feet, very upset and crying and continually made references to Gordon Ramsay and the programme that had ruined his life.

In a statement read out in court, PC Mark Williams said Gray was very emotional and very drunk.

Gray pleaded guilty to drink-driving but claimed he had special reasons to avoid losing his licence.

He said he had panicked and got into his car to avoid a further beating and that his intention was to avoid the men and get to his then girlfriend's house in Gargrave Road, Skipton.

Magistrates refused to accept there were exceptional reasons why Gray chose to drive.

He was banned from driving for 20 months, to be reduced to 15 months if he attends a drink-driving rehabilitation course. He was also fined £250 and ordered to pay £200 costs.