A TOP engineer caught more than three times the drink drive limit in his Audi TT by police, has been ordered off the road for 28 months.

Burnley magistrates heard how Philip Michael Mason, 48, appeared to accelerate away when officers saw him on Burnley Road East, Waterfoot as he made his way to a doctor’s appointment after previously suffering a brain seizure at work.

The court heard Mason carried on driving when police tried to stop him.

He then turned into the grounds of a medical centre, where officers spoke to him and he gave a positive roadside breath test, prosecutors said.

Mason was also tested at the police station and blew a reading of 115 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

The defendant admitted driving with excess alcohol on Cowpe Road, Waterfoot, on July 2.

Mason, of Langwood Court, Haslingden, was sentenced to a two month curfew, between 7pm and 7am and must pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said the Audi came to the attention of police when the driver looked round towards them.

The defendant has a previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol from January 2004.

Which meant had he committed the latest offence in the 10 years before January this year, he would have been banned for three years. He also has speeding points on his licence.

Janet Sime, for Mason, told the hearing : "It has been a very difficult period of time for Mr Mason.

“He accepts he had consumed alcohol. He had a medical appointment and needed to get there."

Miss Sime said Mason was quite seriously ill.

He had collapsed at work with a brain seizure, had been in hospital in Manchester and now has appointments for scans and various treatment.

Mason was currently off work and on statutory sick pay.

The defendant, who is separated from his partner and has children, will suffer at work as a result of losing his licence. He is unable to drink now because of his medical condition.