THINGS went from bad to worse for a man who had walked out after a row with his partner.

Blackburn magistrates heard Stuart Colin Heys was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving, handcuffed and put in the back of a van.

On the way to the police station he started screaming in agony after they went over a bump at speed and when police investigated a bone was literally protruding from his arm.

He was taken straight to hospital.

Heys, 47, of Howard Street, Rishton, pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a vehicle. He was fined £100 with £85 costs and £34 victim surcharge.

Rachel Dixon, prosecuting, said police were looking for Heys after receiving a report at 1.30am that Heys had driven away from his home while intoxicated. Five hours later his vehicle was spotted and officers eventually found him in the car on Livesey Street, Rishton.

"He was sitting in the driver's seat and the keys were in the back of the car," said Miss Dixon.

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said his client had a difficult time after suffering psychological torment at work.

"He took his former employer to a tribunal and won his case," said Mr Bakhat.

"He got another job but was dismissed from that after falling and suffering an injury while out walking his dog."

Mr Bakhat said Heys was extremely stressed and it was causing problems at home.

"On the night of this offence he simply walked out," said Mr Bakhat.

"His partner has told me the call to the police was because she was concerned for his welfare and not because he had been drinking."

He said Heys had purchased a quarter bottle of vodka from an all night petrol station in Blackburn before driving back to Rishton.

"As he told the police, he threw the keys in the back of the car before he drank the vodka," said Mr Bakhat.

He said the injury that led to the bone protruding from his client's body was pre-existing.