A MOTORIST almost three times the limit told police he had not been behind the wheel as he could not drive.

Burnley Magistrates heard how labourer Jason Ripley, 27, got out of the vehicle and the front seat passenger slid into the driver's seat after their car was spotted by police in the early hours.

Ripley, of Browhead Road, Burnley, admitted driving with excess alcohol and no insurance and was fined £240, with £55 costs and banned for two years.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, told the court as police followed the defendant's vehicle it went across to the other side of the road, stopped and completely blocked the road.

Ripley got out and the front seat passenger slid behind the wheel. Officers tried to speak to the defendant and he fell back against the car and tried to start a conversation on his mobile phone. He was very slurred and was having trouble making sentences.

Mr Robinson said the defendant tried to walk away and had to be restrained. When told he was under arrest, he said he wasn't behind the wheel as he couldn't drive.

He gave two police station breath tests and the lower gave a reading of 100 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath - the legal limit is 35. Ripley had no previous convictions.

Nick Dearing, defending, said the shock of his arrest had made Ripley take a good look at himself and he realised drinking to excess was not the thing to do.

The defendant lived with his parents and they were standing by him. He had acted in a "moment of stupidity."