AN army adult instructor who crashed her friend's car while drunk has been banned from the roads for 16 months.

Burnley magistrates heard that Katreena Watherston, 22, had crashed pal Linda Parkinson's Citroen Saxo into a lamppost in Manchester Road, Barnoldswick, outside The Greyhound pub.

Watherston, of Colne, admitted criminal damage and driving with excess alcohol, in relation to the October 6 incident.

Sarah Webster, prosecuting, said the defendant had been out in Barnoldswick with Mrs Parker when they left her Saxo car outside Watherston's boyfriend's home in Skipton Road and went to bed.

Later Mrs Parkinson received a call from the police to say that the vehicle had been involved in a collision, causing damage totalling more than £1,000.

Watherston was arrested at the scene and taken to Burnley police station, where she gave a breathlyser reading of 61mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

She was originally charged with aggravated vehicle taking, the court heard, but that charge was withdrawn as a dispute had arisen over whether she had permission to drive the car or not.

John Hammond, defending, said his client had now secured a job with a firm which provided airline services for VIPs and politicians and realised that if she offended again then her new career would be in jeopardy.

Magistrates conditionally discharged Watherston for 12 months, banned her from driving for 16 months and ordered her to pay £1,050 compensation with £120 costs.