A 42-year-old man caught behind the wheel a month after being banned was found to be nearly four times the legal drink-drive limit.

Blackburn magistrates heard that on the previous occasion David John Pennington had given a reading nearly three times the legal limit.

And, jailing Pennington for six weeks, the magistrates said he had shown a total disregard for the law.

Pennington, of Kingsbridge Wharf, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, while disqualified and without insurance. As well as the prison sentence he was banned from driving for four years.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said when Pennington was banned in April the reading had been 103 against the legal limit of 35 and he had been banned for two years.

The following month he was seen driving a BMW erratically by an off-duty police officer who was so concerned he followed at the same time reporting the situation to uniformed colleagues.

Pennington was stopped at Mellor Brook and admitted he had driven back from the Ribchester Arms where he clamed he had drunk four pints of Stella Artois. He gave a breathalyser reading of 129.

David Rostron, defending, said his client had gone through a traumatic period in his life. His wife had left him and he had lost his job.

"He has taken to drink to take him away from his troubles and it seems to have become a problem for him," said Mr Rostron.