AN IT consultant who normally drives 45,000 miles a year in the course of his business was banned for 24 months by Blackburn magistrates after pleading guilty to drink driving.

The court heard that Brian Place was nearly three times the limit when he was breathalysed after colliding with another car in his high-powered Subaru Impreza and then driving off.

Place, 40, of Brackenbury Close, Lostock Hall, Preston, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and failing to stop after an accident. As well as being banned he was fined a total of £600 with £55 costs.

Place, who gave a reading of 99 against the legal limit of 35, agreed to be referred to the drink driver rehabilitation programme which, if completed successfully, would reduce his ban by up to 25 per cent.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said Mr Ian Barker was approaching a sharp bend at Painter Wood near Whalley and had stopped to let oncoming traffic through. He saw the Subaru, which overdid the manoeuvre, and clipped wing mirrors with his vehicle. As the other vehicle drove off Mr Barker heard a grinding noise and felt a further impact with his car.

Place was found sitting in his vehicle further up the road. He told a police officer he was waiting for his vehicle to be recovered and said he had drunk four glasses of wine.

Richard Prew, defending, said Place had answered a cry for help from a friend who was having relationship problems and had met him in Clitheroe.

"He accepts that he had drunk more than he should have done," said Mr Prew.