A SUSPECTED drink- driver who ended up in a field and then made off is behind bars for six months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how speeding and uninsured Geoffrey Hewitt, 33, smelled of alcohol when he was eventually found, but refused to give police a breath test. He had overtaken on a country road blind bend and lost control of his vehicle.

Hewitt had decided to pass the car in front, crossing double white lines, because he was frustrated it had been travelling so slowly, the court was told.

Sentencing, Judge Barbara Watson said such driving was becoming far too common and Hewitt had shown reckless disregard for the safety of other road users.

He had had no view of others coming towards him on Burnley Road, Weir.

She added it was good fortune nobody was seriously injured, but that was probably because the offences had taken place early on a Sunday morning, the road had been quiet and there had been few vehicles around.

The judge told Hewitt: "A custodial sentence has to punish you and to serve as a warning to others to deter them from behaving in the way you did."

She added she accepted the defendant felt some regret for his behaviour and his conduct was not a prolonged piece of bad driving.

Hewitt, of Gordon Street, Bacup, had earlier admitted dangerous driving, refusing to give a specimen of breath for analysis, having no insurance and failing to stop.

He was also banned from driving for two years and ordered to take an extended retest.