A DENTIST who crashed his car as he left a pub in Chapeltown while nearly four times the legal drink-drive limit has been warned he faces jail.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Walter Rollo Gray was seen by a police officer staggering up the drive of his Turton home, where he fell against a BMW. And when the officer approached Gray said: "I'm not a threat to society, I walked home."

Gray, 49, of Horrobin Fold, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. He was remanded on bail until January 15 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports with all options open to the sentencing bench. He was made subject to an interim disqualification.

Phillipa White, prosecuting, said Gray had driven into a parked car as he left the Cheetham Arms, in High Street, Chapeltown, at about 8.50 pm on Tuesday. After a brief conversation with the owner of the parked car he walked off.

A police officer who went to Gray's address and saw him staggering down the drive. He was arrested and a subsequent breathalyser showed an alcohol level of 133 against the legal limit of 35. Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said Gray has a dental practice in Salford and had been working on the day of the offence.

When he got home an argument developed and he eventually left the house and went to the Cheetham Arms.

"He is not a gentleman who drinks excessively and he would normally get a taxi home," said Mr Church-Taylor. He accepts that his thoughts were elsewhere when he reversed into a parked vehicle. In order to avoid a confrontation at the scene he left and walked home."

He added that after his arrest Gray was kept in custody overnight and was not charged until 11.50 am the following day.

"He is deeply ashamed and embarrassed at what has happened."