A 50 year old woman has escaped jail for her third drink driving offence and second driving while disqualified.

Stella Kneale had sobbed as Burnley magistrates heard how she had turned to crime after her husband of 25 years deserted her and had gone on to swindle a string of women out of their savings.

Kneale, said to have been terrified of the prospect of being put behind bars, was given a combination order of 75 hours community service and 12 months probation. She was also banned from driving for three years, to run concurrently with her present five year ban .

The defendant, who had written a letter of apology to the court, thanked the bench for its understanding.

Kneale, of Marsden Hall Road, Nelson, admitted driving with excess alcohol, driving while disqualified, no insurance and resisting or obstructing a police officer.

Christiana Buchanan, prosecuting, said the defendant, banned for three years in April 1999 and five years in November the same year, had changed her name when she moved to this area to make a fresh start.

She was stopped and breath tested and the lower of two police station breath tests showed 61 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath -- the legal limit being 35.

When she was asked by police if she had ever been in trouble or convicted of drink driving, she said she had not.

Bill Berry, defending, said Kneale was terrified at the prospect of going to custody. Until 1999, she had been a woman of good character and led a useful and worthwhile existence, but her problems started just before that.

In October 1998, her husband of 25 years vanished without warning, leaving her in debt. Their house was under threat of reposession and Kneale found out her husband had been having affairs and swindling various woman out of their savings.

The defendant felt isolated and alone, didn't know where to turn and her life began to fall apart. She arranged to move to Nelson with a friend, but the woman suffered a stroke and Kneale came to this area on her own, feeling even more alone.

Mr Berry said Kneale found it difficult to cope, was looking for work and, in a move that was completely irrational, had bought a car to help her.

He added the defendant, who was an intelligent woman, was actively looking for employment.

A combination order would offer her some support.