A CONSULTANT anaesthetist who smashed into parked cars in the early hours was almost three times the drink drive limit.

Burnley Magistrates heard how father of two David Paul McDowell's Mercedes ended up embedded in one car. Police called to reports of a road crash found him sitting on a wall and thought he was drunk.

The defendant, who had knocked on nearby doors to alert residents to what he had done, was said to have gone out to find somewhere peaceful after a row with his wife.

McDowell, 44, of Church Street, Barrowford, admitted driving with excess alcohol. He was fined £500, with £50 costs and banned for two years.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, told the court at 12.15am on Saturday police were called to an accident on Barrowford Road, Colne. A Mercedes had hit three parked vehicles, causing extensive damage and had come to rest embedded in a car. The defendant was sitting on a wall, admitted he was the driver and smelled strongly of drink. McDowell apologised and added he had not driven off. McDowell was breath tested and the lower of two tests revealed 104 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Mr Robinson said the defendant was questioned, said he had been out for a family meal and had then gone to a local bar and had some wine. He told officers he had driven off after a row with his wife and had misjudged the gap as a minibus came down the road. McDowell had no previous convictions.

Richard Taylor, defending, said McDowell co-operated fully with police and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

He and his wife had been out, neither had intended driving but once home, they had had a dispute. The defendant decided to leave the house to find somewhere peaceful.

Mr Taylor said McDowell fully accepted it was stupid to get in his car. He drove a short distance and the accident immediately brought him to his senses. McDowell rang the doorbell on the nearest house to explain what he had done.

The solicitor said a driving ban was going to be disastrous for the defendant, his family, his colleagues, employers and his patients. He worked in Salford, was on call and recently his on call duties had doubled.

McDowell had one child living in Manchester and another in Liverpool and his disqualification would make it difficult for him to see them.