A FATHER of two almost four times the drink-drive limit in the middle of the afternoon has been jailed for six months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Douglas Groves, 38, who has a previous excess alcohol conviction, was said to have hit a car twice and narrowly missed another motorist in Haslingden town centre.

Groves - then a delivery driver even though he had no licence - was told by Judge Raymond Bennett he would be failing in his duty if he did not send him to prison.

The judge asked the defendant, father of 13-year-old twin boys: "Suppose somebody who was four times the limit had knocked one of your boys down. Nobody who is four times the limit can be in proper control of a vehicle - and you certainly weren't."

Groves, of Hall Carr Road, Rawtenstall, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice, driving with excess alcohol, failing to stop, failing to report an accident and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He was banned for three years.

Philip Holden, prosecuting, said at 4.05pm last March a motorist had to twice brake sharply because of the defendant's driving.

As Groves approached a roundabout on Blackburn Road he hit a parked car, stopped, and drove off, possibly colliding with it again.

The defendant then parked at a nearby restaurant and the motorist phoned the police.

Officers found Groves worse the wear for drink and breath tests showed 137 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

The defendant gave the name Paul Kenyon and was interviewed and bailed in that name.

A warrant was later issued for Mr Kenyon, a former colleague, after Groves failed to turn up at court.

David Temkin, defending, said Groves had not been speeding, mercifully nobody was injured and the damage to the car was minimal.