A disqualified driver was caught behind the wheel by police while nearly three times the drink drive limit.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard when police stopped the car, driven by Hasan Khan, there were empty vodka bottles in the passenger well on September 1.

Khan, 25, of Naarian Court, Blackburn, admitted to driving with excess alcohol, while disqualified and without insurance.

He was jailed for 12 weeks and banned from driving for 46 months.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said a previous conviction for drug driving had led to the ban.

“You should be grateful you didn’t cause serious injury or even death driving in the state you were in,” she added.

“The only sentence I can pass is one of immediate custody.”

Lee Woodyatt, prosecuting, said in the early hours police were alerted to a Ford Focus speeding in the Whalley Range area.

He said: “They located the vehicle on Maple Street and followed it into Naarian Street where it stopped.

"The defendant, who was driving, initially refused to open his window and an officer had to smash it."

Zubair Afzal, mitigating, said his client had been out with friends.

“At some stage he got behind the wheel to drive home and he bitterly regrets that decision,” said Mr Afzal.