A MOTORIST who stopped and went to the assistance of a crash victim ended up being arrested.

Blackburn magistrates heard Daniel Lister had been trying to rip out the windscreen of the overturned car with his bare hands.

Another man who had been trying to help the crash victims noticed he smelled heavily of alcohol and eventually detained him before he could get back in his car.

Lister, 47, of School Lane, Earby, was convicted after a trial of driving with excess alcohol. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a six months alcohol treatment requirement and 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement. He was fined £40 with £300 costs and a £114 victim surcharge. He was disqualified from driving for 40 months.

Carl Gaffney, prosecuting, said there had been a crash on Victoria Road, Earby, which left a car on its roof with people trapped inside.

"The defendant was not involved in that collision," said Mr Gaffney. "He enters the story because he stopped his car and went to the aid of the people in them crashed vehicle."

Mr Gaffney said people from nearby properties had come out to help and one of them noticed the defendant was putting himself in "harm's way."

"He got hold of the front windscreen with his bare hands and cut himself as he tried to rip it out," said Mr Gaffney. "The witness suspected he had been drinking and detained him."

Mr Gaffney said Lister had pleaded not guilty on the basis he had been drinking after stopping his car.

Michelle Man, defending, said the driver of the crashed vehicle was also breathalysed and gave a much higher reading than her client.

"The pre-sentence report shows there is a long history of alcohol abuse," said Miss Man. "He has reached the stage where he realises he has a serious problem with alcohol."

Passing sentence the chairman of the magistrates said it was clear Lister thought he was being a good citizen and trying to help.

"Unfortunately for you it backfired," said the chairman.