A PUB landlord, known for taking home customers not fit to get behind the wheel, has ended up being banned for drink driving.

Burnley magistrates heard how Michael Bennett, 51, licensee of The General Williams, Manchester Road, Burnley, was 'embarrassed and ashamed' about what he had done.

Bennett, who has no previous convictions, was fined £180, with £55 costs and banned from driving for 12 months. He admitted driving with excess alcohol, on January 23.

The court heard the lowest of Bennett's two police station breath tests showed 53 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit being 35.

Geoff Ireland, defending, said Bennett was filled with trepidation at having to appear in court. He did not drink when working behind the bar, took customers home when they were unable to drive and had no intention of drinking and driving.

Last Sunday, the defendant and his wife had been shopping, dropped their daughter off at a friend's house and Bennett had to go to see the steward at a club. He had a couple of pints, somebody else bought him a drink and he was going to leave the car and walk home.

The defendant had had about two-and-a-half pints when he received a phone call to say his daughter was not well. He foolishly finished his drink, got into his car and drove about 300 or 400 yards. Police had followed him and he was stopped.

Mr Ireland said there was no evidence of bad driving. He went on a very short journey. He added Bennett, whose wife did not drive, was embarrassed, ashamed and worried about the predicament.

A driving ban was going to cause considerable inconvenience in his life.

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