A DRIVER who rammed two cars was so drunk he could not manoeuvre his vehicle and was seen staggering away after it hit a lamp post, a court was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Peter Leonard, 46, then refused to give a breath specimen, abused police and threatened to urinate over the breath test machine.

Leonard was jailed for 13 months after a judge told him he had not only been a danger but a menace to other road users.

Judge Barbara Watson said it was not the first time the defendant had come to the attention of the court for such offences, although most were a considerable time ago.

She said it was tragic Leonard had not been able to maintain the very good progress he had made over the last few years.

The judge went on: "I am quite sure when you had had the opportunity to sober up you felt considerable remorse and disappointment in yourself."

Leonard, of Trinity Street, Oswaldtwistle, had admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and using an uninsured vehicle.

He was also banned from driving for three years.

Peter Horgan, prosecuting, told the court in July the defendant hit two cars in Accrington, forcing them through red traffic lights.

Leonard then sped off up Dill Hall Lane and went through two sets of red lights, making other drivers take evasive action.

Police were called and found Leonard had hit a lamp post and veered into a grass verge. He was seen staggering away and then urged police to arrest him.

Mr Horgan said the defendant refused to give a breath sample.

It was his eighth conviction for driving while disqualified. John Edmondson, defending, described Leonard's behaviour as as "moment of madness," and said he regretted his actions.

He had a poor record for offending, beginning when he was 12 years old but in the last few years had sought to stay out of trouble and lead a law abiding life.

He said Leonard had been working as a ground worker for six years and did appear to have made genuine efforts to break his previous cycle of offending. He now had stability in his life.