A SELF-employed joiner who went for a drive after a row with his wife was almost three times the drink-drive limit, a court was told.

Burnley magistrates heard how Garry Livesey, 43, was unsteady on his feet, his eyes were glazed and police thought he was drunk when they stopped him in the early hours.

Livesey, of Denby Grove, Burnley, admitted driving with excess alcohol.

He was fined £300, with £55 costs and banned for two years.

Mercedah Jabbari, prosecuting, told the court police on duty on Lowerhouse Lane, Burnley, saw the defendant driving just after midnight.

He had pulled out and seemed to be struggling to get the car going.

His fog lights were on even though it was clear and officers began to follow the vehicle.

Livesey began to accelerate away, was stopped by the police and an officer went to speak to him.

He appeared drunk and unsteady and after a positive roadside breath test was taken to the police station.

Two breath tests showed 99 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath -- the legal limit is 35.

Dylan Bradshaw, defending, said Livesey was very embarrassed to be in court.

He had had a row with his wife and quite stupidly decided to leave the house.

The defendant than got into his car and went for a drive around the streets.

Livesey, who set up in business in May was a "one man band" and needed his driving licence.

He would now have to look for employment, although he had such a good reputation he would be able to find such work quite quickly.