A DRINK driver was 'devastated' at the prospect of losing his licence, a court heard.

Burnley magistrates was told how Stephen Hargreaves, 22, who had one-and-a-half pints of strong lager, needed his licence to work.

Hargreaves, of River Street, Trawden, was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £180 with £40 costs after admitting driving with excess alcohol.

Linda Forshaw, prosecuting, said Hargreaves was stopped because he was driving at an 'inappropriate' speed. He smelled of drink and his speech was slightly slurred. The lower of two breath tests showed 47 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

Chris Wyatt, defending, said Hargreaves worked on an agency basis, working as a delivery driver and doing temporary factory work. Of more than 20 jobs he had been for, only two of them had not needed a driving licence.

On the night of the offence, Hargreaves decided to go and see friends, called at the pub and had one-and-a-half pints of strong lager. If it had been normal beer, he would not have been over the limit. Mr Wyatt went on: "He was most surprised at his reading and is devastated at what's going to happen to him."

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