A DRINK driver who got behind the wheel and was caught again a month after being banned, has paid the price with 14 days in prison.
A court heard how Paul Adrian Holt, 27, was nearly twice the legal limit -- and a stipendiary magistrate told him about 80 to 85 per cent of serious road accidents were because of drink drivers, who were a danger to themselves and others.
Jonathon Finestein said he had a public duty and people must understand that repeated offences of this sort would be treated harshly to warn others.
He went on: "I bear in mind prison will be a dreadful experience and the shock of it even for a relatively short time will be sufficient punishment rather than its length."
Holt, of Goodshaw Fold Road, Crawshawbooth, was also banned from driving for three years.
He admitted driving with excess alcohol, driving while disqualified and no insurance. Pat Bramley, prosecuting at Burnley Magistrates' Court, said police were called to a farm where a car was stuck in soft earth. Holt was behind the wheel and when he got out and spoke to officers, they noticed he smelled of drink.
His breath test reading was 66 microgrammes -- nearly double the legal limit of 35.
Holt had been disqualified for drink-driving just a month earlier.
Louise Daniel, defending, said Holt had had considerable emotional difficulties over the years and the offences were linked to that. His previous convictions were purely drink related.
The defendant was now seeing a counsellor to sort himself out and minimise such behaviour.
He only drove a short distance and had he been able to move away, he intended to drive immediately home and put the car in the garage.
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