CHRISTOPHER Grant Kilpatrick, 21, of Bentham Road, Blackburn was fined £50 with £50 costs and banned from driving for 12 months by Blackburn magistrates after pleading guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

Kilpatrick, who gave a reading of 46 against the legal limit of 35, agreed to be referred to the drink driver rehabilitation programme which, if completed successfully, will reduce his ban by up to 25 per cent.

Roger Pickles, defending, said Kilpatrick had not been legally represented in the police station and had declined the offer of giving a blood sample because his breath reading was so low.

"It's a great shame he didn't give a blood sample because it is highly likely it would have come back negative," said Mr Pickles.