A STAG night ended in a driving ban after a depressed student got behind the wheel to get away from family troubles.

Kenneth Barker, 29, of King's Drive, Padiham, admitted driving with excess alcohol.

He was fined £300 and banned for two years.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, told the court that police on duty in Accrington Road, Burnley, in the early hours saw the defendant drive across the central white lines.

He said Robinson went to a petrol station, the officers went to speak to him and a roadside breath test proved positive.

Barker gave a police station test revealing 92 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35. He had no previous convictions.

Brian Irlam, defending, said Barker returned from his night out at about 1.30am but because of difficulties at home he became more stressed, agitated and depressed.

The defendant felt his father's new partner was doing her level best to drive him away from home.

The solicitor said she had taken down family pictures in Barker's room as she did not want reminders of his late mother and the defendant got in his car as he wanted to avoid confrontation.

He intended to go a short way, park up and then return later.

Barker, who denied there was anything wrong with his driving, had been prescribed beta blockers.

He wanted to leave home but couldn't as he was in his third year at Lancaster University and his income was limited.

Mr Irlam added Barker felt his father had had to choose between himself and his co-habitee - and had chosen her instead of him.