A COMPANY boss who drove to the chippy from the pub was stopped by police who had been tipped off about a possible drink driver.

Blackburn magistrates heard Christopher Parker refused to provide a breath sample despite some "good advice" from a police officer.

Parker, 46, of Queens Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He was fined £440 with £85 costs and £44 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 18 months.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said police were directed to Marlborough Road after reports of a man driving under the influence of alcohol who had gone into a takeaway. They saw a Mercedes van being reversed out of an alley and stopped the vehicle which was being driven by Parker.

"He refused to provide a roadside sample and also refused to provide a sample at the police station," said Mrs Yates.

Neil Howard, defending, said his client had only driven four or five hundred meters from the pub to the takeaway and had the same distance to travel home.

"He knows he should have walked," said Mr Howard.

"At the police station an officer told him he didn't seem too intoxicated and if he was only marginally over the limit it would be much better than refusing to provide.

"That was good advice but unfortunately he didn't take it."