A WEDDING guest who smashed into a car when said to be almost four times the legal limit stared custody in the face on his first court appearance.

Burnley magistrates told Anthony Jackson, 35, that prison had been an option, but instead he was fined £600, banned from driving for two years and must pay £35 costs.

The defendant, of Holme Terrace, Lomeshaye, Nelson, admitted failing to provide a specimen of breath. He had no previous convictions.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said police were called to an accident on Barnoldswick Road, Higherford, and found the defendant had hit a parked car, shunting it into another vehicle.

Jackson was sitting on the ground and appeared to be asleep. He woke up, started staggering around and eventually had to sit down. He smelled strongly of drink, his eyes were glazed and his speech slurred.

A roadside breath test proved positive and after Jackson was arrested, he had to be helped to the police van as he was almost falling over.

At the police station, a number of attempts were made to provide a sample of breath and Jackson produced one sample, with a reading of 133 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath -- the legal limit is 35.

David Lawson, defending, said although Jackson had produced one sample with a high reading, it needed to be treated with caution. The defendant realised he was in a serious position and had never appeared in court before. He knew he was going to be disqualified. Jackson, who suffered from lack of self esteem, had been to a wedding and although he had been pleased to have been invited, felt he may have been out of place.

His girlfriend rang him during the day, they had a blazing row and he became very upset. Jackson foolishly got in his car and decided to leave the wedding.

Mr Lawson added the defendant, a night shift worker at an engineering firm, relied on his car to get to work and also to visit his elderly parents in Liverpool.