A CATERING worker banned from the roads has walked free from court after his third drink-drive conviction - his second this year.

Burnley magistrates heard ex-drug addict Daniel Oliver Ward, 24, got behind the wheel of a borrowed a car to drive from Scarborough to see his girlfriend in Burnley.

The defendant, of Elmwood Street, admitted driving with excess alcohol, driving while disqualified and no insurance on July 31.

He was given a two-year community rehabilitation order, including the Drink Impaired Drivers' Programme, fined £200, banned for a further three years and ordered to pay £50 costs.

Sentencing, justices told Ward he had been facing custody and was a very lucky man.

The court heard officers pulled him over at 3.15am after seeing him drive across a car park and the pavement, into Active Way, Burnley.

But he co-operated with officers and admitting he was banned. The defendant was banned until 2007 and had a previous conviction for drink driving from earlier this year.

Nick Dearing, defending, said Ward got lost in Burnley. The defendant had been working to overcome his previous misconduct and change his ways.

He had a drug problem but had put it behind him. Ward was now working in a Burnley pub.