A TINY amount of alcohol cost a 30-year-old Blackburn man a 12 month driving ban and £234 in fines and costs.
Blackburn magistrates heard that Gurmeet Uppal gave a reading of 41 at the police station, one milligram over the level at which the police do not prosecute.
Uppal, of Navigation Way, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. He agreed to be referred to the drink drive rehabilitation programme which, if completed successfully, would reduce his ban by up to 25 per cent.
Peter Wilde, prosecuting, said Uppal had taken the opportunity to give a blood sample because of the low breath reading and this revealed an alcohol level of 92 against the legal limit of 80.
Daniel King, defending, said Uppal had been out with friends and had drunk two pints of beer.
"He felt perfectly alright to drive and it never occurred to him that he would be over the limit," said Mr King.
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