A CO-WORKER refused to travel with his designated driver because he was concerned over his condition.

Blackburn magistrates heard Adam Maqsood drove out of the depot without his passenger but was followed by his manager who brought him back.

A subsequent works drug test was positive for cocaine.

Maqsood, 26, of Wordsworth Drive, Great Harwood, pleaded guilty to driving while over the limit for benzoylecgonine, the metabolite of cocaine. He was fined £180 with £85 costs and £34 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 20 months.

Gareth Hughes, prosecuting, said Maqsood turned up for work at Kays Traffic Management in Great Harwood and was driving a Mercedes pickup.

"One of his colleagues alerted the manager about the nature of his driving," said Mr Hughes.

"The manager went after him and saw him pull out of Delph Lane and indicated for him to stop. He carried on and then mounted the kerb and colliding with some scaffold on Queen Street."

Mr Hughes said the manager too him back to his office and contacted the police when their own drug test was positive. A subsequent blood test showed a reading of 241 against the legal limit of 50.

Peter King, defending, said his client was a married father of three children who worked hard to provide for his family.

He was working long hours and was also struggling with anxiety and depression.

"He took cocaine the day before this incident and thought he would be alright to drive the following morning," said Mr King.

"A colleague decided there were issues with his fitness to drive before they left the yard."