A DRIVER who police wanted to stop because he was speeding turned out to be more than twice the drive drive limit and banned, a court heard.

Pennine magistrates were told Simon Paul Fisher, 33, who has had cancer, almost reversed into a patrol car after officers followed him. He had five previous convictions for disqualified driving.

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Fisher, of Forfar Street, Burnley, admitted driving with excess alcohol, driving while disqualified and no insurance on Glen View Road, Burnley, on October 21.

He was banned for 48 months and was given a community order with a 12-week curfew, and ordered to pay £85 court costs.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said Fisher passed a police car at 2am going up to 70mph on the 60mph road, in hazardous driving conditions.

The police followed him and as the officer was trying to get his attention, Fisher almost reversed into his car. The officer avoided a crash by sounding his horn and flashing his lights.

Fisher failed a roadside breath test and gave a police station reading of 89 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of breath - the legal limit is 35.

Sara Lyle, defending, said her client had been drinking with a friend who lived in Cliviger. The weather was not very good and the defendant decided to drive him home.

Miss Lyle added the defendant, who suffered chronic pancreatitis, had recently been very ill.

She said: "He finished drinking at 6pm and thought he would be fine."