Rawtenstall drink driver had knuckle duster in his pocket (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rawtenstall drink driver had knuckle duster in his pocket

1:00pm Wednesday 16th January 2013 in News

A DRINK driver who put his job on the line was found with a knuckle duster in his pocket, Burnley magistrates heard.

Engineer Trevor Ashworth, 47, had only just started in his employment and did not know if he would be kept on.

Ashworth, who ‘foolishly’ tried to get away from the police, was twice the limit when he was breath tested, after being stopped in a Ford Transit on Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, last December 30. The defendant, of Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, admitted failing to stop when required by a constable and driving with excess alcohol.

He was fined £200, with a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs and was banned from driving for 20 months.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said Ashworth had been stopped at about 1am near the Crown pub, after police had been concerned he had been drinking. He had increased his speed to try and get away from officers and afterwards he claimed that being convicted of drink driving would affect his job. The defendant had a knuckle duster in his pocket and was cautioned for that.

Jeremy Frain, for Ashworth,said he had made some bad judgement choices. He added: “The defendant is hoping to be able to retain his job as an engineer with a local company in the Rossendale Valley.”