A DRINK driver has told a court worry at a phone call from his sick grandmother led him to get behind the wheel

Jacob Appleyard, who was representing himself at Bolton Magistrates' Court was caught by police just after 1am on October 19 on Chew Moor Lane, Westhoughton.

"The Corsa had left the carriageway and collided with a hedge. Substantial damage was caused to the vehicle," said Steve Woodman, prosecuting.

"Mr Appleyard was still at the scene and in fact, was still sat in the driver's seat.

"Police noticed that he smelled of drink and a positive sample at the roadside led to his arrest."

He was found to have 44 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Appleyard, aged 26, of Bury Road, Breightmet, pleaded guilty to drink driving and told the magistrates: "I was supposed to stay at my girlfriend's that night but I had a phone call from my grandmother who has just undergone treatment for cancer."

He added that he had been worried and distracted when he got in the car and, as a result of the offence, has now lost his job.

Appleyard has five previous convictions, including one for burglary in 2011, but non for drink driving.

He was fined £120, banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 towards prosecution costs plus a £32 victim surcharge.

Chairman of the Bench, Peter Jones told him: "You had had some sad news about your grandmother.

"But obviously we can't have people getting behind the wheel when they are over the limit. However, you are only just over the limit."