A MAN convicted of his third drink driving offence in five years has walked free from court with just a £150 fine.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Yasar Ghalib, who was seen driving down the wrong side of Bolton Road towards Blackburn Royal Infirmary, later failed a breathalyser.

Today road safety campaigners said they were "dismayed" at the sentence and branded the magistrates "irresponsible".

Ghalib, 26, of Sherwood Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and was fined and ordered to pay £50 costs. He was disqualified for three years, the minimum for anyone convicted of their second drink driving offence within a 10 year period.

He could have faced a £5,000 fine and up to six months in jail for the offence.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, said Ghalib had been convicted of driving with excess alcohol in September 2001 and being in charge of a vehicle with excess alcohol in August 2003.

Roger Pickles, defending, said the reading of 51 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35 microgrammes, was not high by any stretch of the imagination.

But Brigitte Chaudhry, founder of the charity Roadpeace, which campaigns on behalf of the victims of road accidents, hit out at the court's decision.

"Drink driving is supposed to be treated more seriously than other forms of driving offences.

"We are very disappointed and think it is very irresponsible on the part of magistrates.

"How is a person suppose to get the message their behaviour is unacceptable and life threatening? We are just dismayed every time we hear of sentences like this."

It's not the first time the sentencing of East Lancashire magistrates has attracted the wrath of road safety groups.

Campaigners blasted a bench in Burnley's decision to spare jobless mother-of-13 Ellen Morris, 40, jail and slash her court debts by nearly two thirds after she was caught driving while serving a ban for drink driving.