A 25-year-old Sabden man who cut across the path of a liveried police car as he drove to pick up his girlfriend later failed a breathalyser.

Lee Michael Phillips, 25, of Watt Street, Sabden, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. He was banned from driving for 20 months and fined £140 with £100 costs.

He gave a reading of 78 against the legal limit of 35.

Helen Oates, defending, said Phillips stopped his car as soon as he saw the blue lights behind him.