A farmer who was spared jail for terrorising a neighbour with a double barrelled shotgun is now behind bars after being caught drink driving.

Father-of-two James Mason, 55, had been given a suspended jail term for the fall-out over sheep worrying.

He is now serving part of that sentence after getting behind the wheel over the limit for a third time. Mason, who lives with his elderly parents and runs their farm at Grane, Haslingden, was sent to prison for eight months.

The defendant, of Castle Road, had admitted drink driving, having no licence, no insurance and resisting police.

Sentencing, Recorder Graham Knowles said Mason's parents would be in considerable difficulties with him being jailed, but it was his fault. He was banned from driving for four years.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, told the court that last March 8 the defendant had been given 11 months in custody, suspended for two years, after admitting affray and possessing a shotgun without a certificate.

He appeared at Preston Crown Court after an incident in which he put a shotgun through a neighbour's open car window and told her :"Shut up, or you are going to get this."

The Mason family had been in dispute with neighbours who kept dogs and the defendant and his brother claimed the dogs got off their leads and worried sheep, the court heard.

On September 23 this year, police followed the defendant after he drove off the Holden Arms car park in Haslingden at 1.45am. He refused to stop and carried on to the farm track to where he lived.

The defendant got out of his car and said he had had three beers and refused "point blank," to give a roadside breath test. He then clung onto the sides of the vehicle when he was told he was going to be arrested and had to be given five "knee strikes" by police before he complied.

Miss Statham said Mason was finally detained and taken to the police station where he gave a test showing 52 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath - the legal limit is 35. He had two previous convictions for excess alcohol.

Tim Storrie, defending, said Mason, who did not read or write, had worked on the farm since he was 14 or 15.

He was solely responsible for 700 sheep and nearly 80 cattle. He had no financial interest in the farm and was given, effectively, pocket money, she said.

Mr Storrie said the defendant had been described by a probation officer as brash, tough and hard-working. Others might think he was abrasive, rude and aggressive. Mason also looked after his elderly parents, the court was told.