AN off-duty police officer who spoke to a driver who had a motorbike underneath the front of his car noticed he smelled of drink and was "rambling."

Burnley magistrates heard how the officer had heard a bang, then somebody shout "hello," and found father-of-two, Michael Robert Lockett, 26, who said he had been to his sister's funeral.

Lockett, a trainee chef, of Hollin Hall Barn, Trawden, admitted failing to provide a specimen of breath, driving without insurance and with no licence.

He was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £200 and ordered to pay £40 costs.

Neil White, prosecuting, said other than the remark about the funeral, the defendant did not make sense to the officer.

He said to the police;"Don't batter me," and although the red light came on during the roadside breath test, he did not give sufficient samples to be measured at the police station.

Philip Turner, defending, said Lockett's wife was at her sister's wedding in Manchester and when he could not get through to her on his mobile telephone, decided to drive the short distance to a phone box.

He had drunk about three or four cans and had not intended to get behind the wheel.

He clipped the motorcycle after somebody pulled out sharply in front of him.

Lockett, who normally rode a motorbike, was learning to drive and had bought the car not intending to use it until he passed his test.

A ban would cause considerable inconvenience for the defendant, who was studying at Nelson and Colne college to be a chef.

He travelled to the college on his motorbike and it was two and a half months before he qualified.