A DRINK driver caught out on the way to work had slept the night in his car, Burnley magistrates heard.

Michael Witowski, 24, had been out the night before and was almost twice the limit when stopped by police just before 6am. The defendant, of Park Road, Barnoldswick, admitted driving with excess alcohol. He was fined £150, with £50 costs and banned for 12 months.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, told the court police in Colne saw the defendant clip a kerb. He was travelling along Langroyd Road at excessive speed and almost lost control at a roundabout.

Officers pulled Witowski up and spoke to him. The defendant gave a positive breath test and was taken to the police station. The lowest of two tests there showed 64 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35. He had no previous convictions.

Rachel Adamson, defending, said naivety had led to Witowski appearing before the court rather than a deliberate attempt at driving a vehicle over the limit. He had been out the night before with a friend in Burnley. He and his friend were going to get a taxi back, but slept in his car and Witowski woke up at 5.40am.

Miss Adamson said: "His mistake was believing that six hours or so was enough to get the drink out of his system."