A MAN drove his partner to hospital after she was bitten by a friend's dog while they were having a drink. But the decision to get behind the wheel came back to bite Liam John Briercliffe when he was stopped and breathalysed as he drove away from hospital. Briercliffe, 36, of Alexandra Street, Clayton-le-Moors, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. He was fined £415 with £41 victim surcharge and £85 costs and banned from driving for 23 months. Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said police were called by staff at the hospital who could tell Briercliffe had been drinking and was driving. Officers saw him driving away from the hospital and a breathalyser gave a reading of 95 against the legal limit of 35. Richard Prew, defending, said his client and his partner had been at a friend's where they had a few drinks. "His partner was bitten by the friend's dog and her hand was bleeding quite badly," said Mr Prew. "They went home and he tried to stem the bleeding without success. Without thinking he jumped in his partner's car and drove her to A & E." He said there was no suggestion of any bad driving.