A FORMER policeman and driving instructor today spoke of his regret after being caught twice for drink-driving.

David Ward, 51, was handed a three-year driving ban by Blackburn magistrates after the court heard he was three times the legal limit on two separate occasions in a three-week period.

Now the former instructor, who estimates he has taught more than 1,000 pupils, has vowed to give up alcohol because of a severe liver condition.

Ward, of Pothouse Lane, Darwen, said he was the victim of cirrhosis -- a liver disease that retains alcohol in the body for a longer period than a healthy person.

Speaking after the court case he said: "It's turned my life upside down. Both times I had no idea I was over the limit. The first time was in July and I'd been out for lunch and I didn't feel so good so I came home in the evening and I started having chest pains.

"Without thinking about it I drove to the hospital because I really thought I was having a heart attack. I was examined, told it was just muscle pain and so I drove home again.

"Before I could even pull into the drive I was stopped by about three or four police cars."

Ward denied he had a problem with alcohol, saying he only drank on social occasions but now he has made a commitment to give up the habit that could end up killing him.

Ward said he death of his uncle at the end of December, together with his father's continuing health problems have played heavily on his mind.

He continued: "My uncle died and my father has been in hospital for two months with heart problems and it does have an effect on me but it's no excuse for what I did."

"I know I shouldn't drink in my condition but it's a social thing. I have thought about giving up but now I'm going to take it a lot more seriously."

Ward retired from the police in 1980 after ten years in the force. He then became a driving instructor, a profession he undertook for 20 years.

He said: "I really enjoyed my line of work and I taught so many people. Now I've lost my licence and I'm unemployed and virtually unemployable at 51.

"I'm looking into computer courses at the moment to try to get a future together."

Ward was stopped again a month later on Monday, August 12, two days after his 51st birthday. He had been out celebrating with his wife and and friends on the Sunday.

Ward narrowly escaped prison and magistrates informed him they had 'only just' been persuaded to keep him out of the cells. A three-year community rehabilitation order was imposed and he was ordered to pay £65 costs to the court.

Peter Turner, defending, told the court Ward had a 'death sentence' hanging over his head because of the disease and added: "He is a man who has served the community and a man with qualities."