A DRUNK driver who rammed another motorist shouted “Dale Cregan” at officers who came to arrest him.

Lawrence Naylor was almost three times over the limit when he got behind the wheel of his Audi on April 30.

At around 1.40pm, motorist Mark Grimshaw saw the vehicle approaching at speed behind him in Whalley New Road, Blackburn.

Naylor drove into the back of Mr Grimshaw’s car so hard the driver’s glasses flew off and hit the dashboard.

But when Mr Grimshaw stopped the vehicle, Naylor approached, shouting: “Where is he? I’m going to knock his head off.”

Preston Crown Court heard Mr Grimshaw - who had never met Naylor before - was holding his mobile phone to call the police as Naylor shouted: “Phone your dad, your brother, who the f***ing hell you want. I’ll do them too.”

He then punched Mr Grimshaw to the back of his head and kicked him in the stomach, the court heard.

Mr Grimshaw returned to his car and called the police as Naylor, of Cornelian Street, Blackburn, paced up and down outside the car.

When the police arrived at the scene, Naylor was shouting obscenities, and turned to the officers, shouting: “Dale Cregan...I’ll get my boys to sort you out.”

Naylor was arrested and found to have 92 mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

At the time of the offence he was serving a suspended sentence for breaching a restraining order made to protect his ex partner, the court heard.

Mr Grimshaw was not hurt, despite being struck twice by Naylor.

Following his arrest, Naylor could not explain why he had got behind the wheel as he had been out with friends and had walked home.

When he sobered up he was extremely ashamed of his behaviour.

He pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, common assault and breach of a suspended sentence order.

Recorder Neville Biddle, sentencing, said: “The amount you drank had a devastating effect on you. For some reason you got into your car and drove into the back of an entirely innocent motorist.

“You then assaulted him, punching him in the back of the head and kicking him in the side.

“You did apologise when you sobered up and pleaded guilty to those offences.”

The judge said Naylor had made good progress on his rehabilitation order and could suspend the inevitable prison sentence.

He sentenced him to six months suspended for two years, with 80 hours of unpaid work, a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement, a 12 month driving ban and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge.

Naylor must also pay compensation to Mr Grimshaw.