A DRINK-driver's life had lurched from one disaster to another, culminating in the death of his son from a heroin overdose, Blackburn magistrates were told.

Heating engineer Michael Teirney had been made bankrupt, owing £180,000, and his wife had left him.

He was prescribed anti-depressant drugs and these caused him to return to drink which he had shunned for over 10 years.

The magistrates were told that as well as the death of his son, Teirney's home was being repossessed and if he lost his driving licence there was every chance he would lose his job.

Teirney, 49, of Sunny Bank Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and was remanded on bail until May 7, for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

He gave a reading of 86 against the legal limit of 35 when he was stopped at 5.30pm on Sunday.

Simon Farnsworth, defending, said he had been present at the police station when Teirney was brought in and he was in a "terrible state."

He said Teirney had been a drinker all his life but had stopped in 1986 and steered clear of alcohol for 10 years.

When his other problems got on top of him he went to the doctor who prescribed anti-depressants.

"When he takes them he turns to drink, he describes them as mind-altering," said Mr Farnsworth.

He said Teirney was mystified by the reading he had given because as far as he could recall he only had two cans of lager

Teirney was convicted of failing to provide a specimen in 1996 when he was disqualified for 12 months and Mr Farnsworth said that incident typified the bad luck that had dogged his client.

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