A DELIVERY driver who took advantage of a “rare opportunity” to socialise with a friend foolishly decided to drive home.

Blackburn magistrates heard Phillip Degg gave a positive roadside breath test but then refused to provide an evidential sample at the police station.

Degg, 28, of Warner Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He was made subject to a community order with 80 hours’ unpaid work, banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £95 victim surcharge.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said Degg was stopped by police at 2.35am driving a van on Manchester Road, Accrington.

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said: “This was the one time in a long time when he was able to socialise with friends. He thought he was OK to drive.”