A DRINK driver said by the prosecution to be a menace and a danger to other road users was today starting a 120-day jail term.

Burnley magistrates heard how Imran Khadam had clocked up three drink-drive related offences in just eight months.

The defendant, 25, of Castle Street, Brierfield, admitted driving with excess alcohol, driving while disqualified and no insurance. He was banned for five years.

Sentencing, the bench chairman told the defendant his case was one of the worst he had experienced for blatantly ignoring the law.

He added Khadam was a persistent offender and only custody could be justified.

Carl Gaffney, prosecuting, told the court police saw the defendant driving without lights in the dark. They tried to stop him and there was a brief pursuit.

When Khadam pulled up, he was clearly under the influence of alcohol.

A roadside breath test proved negative and he was taken to the police station, where a test showed 43 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Khadam declined a blood test.

Mr Gaffney said Khadam was banned for 12 months for drink driving in February and in May was convicted of driving while disqualified and failing to provide a specimen.

John Rusius, defending, said Khadam could not believe how foolish he had been and how he had put himself in such a serious position.