A MISCALCULATION proved costly for a laboratory technician arrested for drink driving.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Sean Winder calculated he would be OK to drive after drinking earlier in the evening but was still over the limit when he was stopped.

Simon Farnsworth, defending, said the two readings taken at the police station showed his client’s alcohol level was falling.

“Another half an hour or so and he may well have passed the breath test,” said Mr Farnsworth.

“As it is its going to prove a very costly miscalculation.”

Winder, 18, of Trent Street, Longridge, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and without insurance. He was fined a total of £500 with £75 costs.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said Winder was arrested after crashing his brother’s car into a fence at about 2am.

Mr Farnsworth said the car was beyond repair and Winder would have to pay for that as well as making reparation to the owner of the fence.