A SELF-EMPLOYED fitness instructor and sports coach has been warned he could face prison after causing a motorway crash when he was nearly four times the drink- drive limit.

Blackburn magistrates heard Andrew Tatam had drunk half a bottle of vodka after teaching badminton in Bolton before getting in his car to drive back to Worsthorne.

As he travelled Eastbound on the M65, Tatam’s vehicle swerved from side to side before veerving across all three lanes of the motorway. The car turned sideways before colliding with a Peugeot and both vehicles ended up on the hard shoulder.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said it was fortunate no one was killed.

Tatam, 37, of Heckenhurst Avenue, Worsthorne, Burnley, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report and the magistrates said they were not ruling out custody.

Michelle Stewart, defending, said after the coaching session in Bolton, Tatam had telephoned his wife and there had been an argument.

“He simply didn’t think what he was doing when he drank the vodka,” said Miss Stewart.