A DRINK-DRIVER who crashed into a lamppost at 4.25pm while three times the legal limit claimed he hadn't had a drink that day.

Blackburn magistrates heard Lukasz Kazmierczak had only returned from a holiday in Poland that day and had been on his way to the shop to buy some beer when he ran head on into the lamppost in Bennington Street, Blackburn.

Kazmierczak, 35, of Chester Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in a Ford Mondeo on March 31 and driving other than in accordance with a licence.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 10 days rehabilitation activity requirement, fined £40 and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge. He was banned from driving for 25 months.

Helen Farnsworth, defending, said her client accepted he had been drinking heavily the two days before he left Poland.

"He got a lift back from the airport and then got in his car to get a few cans of beer," said Mrs Farnsworth.

"He says he hadn't been drinking that day."

The court heard Kazmierczak gave a reading of 103 against the legal limit of 35.