A DRINK driver found behind a skip was not trying to avoid the police -- but said he was going for a "canoodle" with his girlfriend, a court was told.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Martin John Quigley, 25, was said to have hidden his car keys.

However, his solicitor said that he had not known a police vehicle was there and had dropped the keys.

Quigley, of Duke Street, admitted driving with excess alcohol, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and not having insurance.

He also pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in a separate incident.

He was fined £100, banned from driving for 12 months, conditionally discharged for a year and must pay £55 costs.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said two people were seen to get out of the car and go and hide behind a skip.

Quigley's breath smelled of drink and the lower of two breath tests showed 45 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath -- the legal limit is 35.

The defendant turned down the option of providing a specimen of blood.

On another occasion, Quigley was involved in a late-night melee at a pub in which he was aggressive, lashing out and twice referred to a police officer as "Dibble."

He had not been in trouble for drink driving before.

He did not know the police vehicle was there and got out of the car because he was "going for a canoodle," with his girlfriend.