A VISIT to see his estranged wife and four children ended with George Toomey being arrested by armed police.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Toomey was stopped by officers hunting the men responsible for an armed robbery at a Darwen sub post office.

Toomey, 38, of Hafton Road, Salford, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified.

Stipendiary magistrate Jonathon Finestein remanded him in custody until January 14 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports after he heard that it was Toomey's fifth similar offence.

Kevin Preston, defending, said Toomey had returned to Blackburn to see his wife and children and had then gone out with some friends.

"They were drinking but my client was not and he foolishly decided to drive," said Mr Preston.

"He was stopped in Darwen by armed police who were investigating the post office robbery."

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