A MAN has been banned from driving for four years after being found to be nearly three times over the legal drink drive limit while on the M65.

Blackburn magistrates heard how Gary Edward Jones, 53, had 96 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when he was stopped by police in his Vauxhall Vivaro van by police on August 28 this year.

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The legal limit is 35 microgrammes per 100.

The court also heard Jones, of Atlas Road in Darwen, was also found to be driving without a valid licence.

Jones pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without a valid insurance policy.

For the drink driving offence Jones was given the 48-month ban, as well as being made subject of a nine-month alcohol treatment requirement and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Magistrates also imposed a fine of £50 and a victim surcharge of £85.

Magistrates ruled Jones would face no separate penalty for the insurance offence.

A spokesman for the court said after the hearing: “The defendant’s guilty plea was taken into account when imposing sentence.”