Police feared drink man was going to ram car

Burnley Magistrates heard how an officer had to smash Waseem Sarwar's window to get him out of the car. The defendant was so drunk that when he got to the police station he had to be physically helped from the officers' van.

A month later he was caught driving while banned and when arrested and cautioned he said to police: "Can you let me off?"

Sarwar, of Farrer Street, Nelson, admitted driving with excess alcohol and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence on November 11 and driving while disqualified and using an uninsured vehicle on December 17.

He was given 140 hours community punishment, banned for 15 months and told to pay £75 costs.

Mercedah Jabbari, prosecuting, said in the early hours police saw the defendant driving from Nelson towards Brierfield. They followed him as a result of information received.

Sarwar pulled into Every Street with no lights on and the officers thought he was going to drive into the police van. He pulled alongside the vehicle and an officer ran over to Sarwar and shouted at him to get out.

Sarwar started to reverse his car and mounted the edge of the kerb. The officer decided the only way to stop the defendant was to smash the driver's window with his baton. He then grabbed the keys, opened the car door and told Sarwar to get out. He refused and struggled with the officer and his colleague.

Miss Jabbari said the defendant's car smelled strongly of alcohol and so did he. He was put in the police van but banged on the inside the cage and had to be helped out at the police station.

Sarwar gave two breath tests and the lower of two revealed 62 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

John Rusius, defending, said Sarwar had been very silly on two occasions in five weeks. He did not realise he was over the limit and felt fine to drive.

The defendant very much regretted what he had done. Sarwar, who was most anxious to get back in work, knew he could go to jail.