A PRISON officer who crashed his car into another vehicle when he was nearly four times the legal drink-drive limit has escaped a prison sentence.

Blackburn magistrates heard that David Mark Smith had his six-year-old son in the car when he sped through a red light in Preston New Road and hit a car joining from Yew Tree Drive before crashing into a lamp-post.

He gave a reading of 133 against the legal limit of 35 after the collision at 4.20pm on Saturday April 6 and told police he had two pints the night before.

But magistrates who imposed a fine of £2,500 and banned Smith for three years said they felt they could fulfil their public duty without imposing a prison sentence.

Today Mary Williams OBE, from voluntary road safety organisation Brake which campaigns against drink driving, said: "The seriousness of the dangers posed by drivers who drink and drive needs to be reflected in tough punishments handed out by courts.

"We would like to see more targeted campaigns on drink driving, more police officers on the roads to carry out random breath tests and tougher sentences for drivers who break the drink-driving law."

Announcing the decision, the chairman said it had been one of the most tragic and difficult cases he had ever dealt with.

He said: "We have considered your personal circumstances, your wife's illness, which no doubt exacerbated the work-related stress you were under, and have taken into account the active support you are receiving from friends and colleagues, from Alcoholics Anonymous and the counselling your are receiving.

"This personal mitigation takes us away from custody."

Smith, 40, of Stockwood Close, Blackburn, who works at Wymot Prison, Leyland, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He agreed to be referred to the drink drivers rehabilitation programme which, if completed successfully, would reduce the ban by up to 25 per cent.

John Greenwood, defending, said he was conscious of the fact that the Magistrates Court guidelines suggested that when dealing with someone nearly four times the legal limit the court should consider custody.

He said Smith's wife had been diagnosed as suffering from cancer and his problem with alcohol became much worse.

Mr Greenwood said that testimonials from colleagues, superiors and friends showed a different man to the one who drove the car on April 6.

A spokesman for the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which leads the Think! drink driving awareness campaign, said: "Penalties for offences have become more severe as attitudes towards drinking and driving have hardened.

"But the decision on the penalty is down to individual cases."

A spokesman for the Prison Officer's Association said it would not comment on cases involving individual officers.