A MAN seen driving erratically by police was later found to be more than four times the drink drive limit.

Blackburn magistrates heard Jason Crabtree first came to the attention of patrolling officers when they saw him drive off a pub car park.

Crabtree, 52, of Sabden Road, Higham, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and failing to surrender to bail. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Usmah Kausar, prosecuting, said officers were on mobile patrol when they saw a Range Rover drive off the car park of the Queen Victoria in Burnley.

“The vehicle was repeatedly veering across the carriageway and into the cycle lane and they decided to stop it, suspecting the driver may have been under the influence,” said Miss Kausar.  At the police station, Crabtree gave a reading of 143mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath against the legal limit of 35.

Gabrielle Black, defending, said it was accepted the magistrates would require a pre-sentence report. She said her client had missed his last court appearance because he had been in a residential rehabilitation centre.