POLICE patrolling the A59 late at night came across a stationary car in the left-hand lane, with no lights on and a shredded tyre.

Blackburn magistrates heard a man who got out from the driver’s side was clearly drunk.

But when he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving Shaun Ormerod said to the officers: “You didn’t see me driving.”

Ormerod, 38, of Kirkmoor Road, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a car when over the legal drink drive limit. He was fined £556 with £85 costs and a £55 victim surcharge. His licence was endorsed with 10 penalty points.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the officers saw the black Mitsubishi on the A59 near Clitheroe at 11.45pm on June 21.

She said Ormerod struggled out of the vehicle and was clearly drunk. He was arrested after giving a positive roadside test.

The court heard Ormerod had 108 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Ormerod, who was not represented, said the incident was very out of character for him. He said he was not a big drinker and he thought his drink had been spiked, someone had driven him to where he was found and left him in the car.