Drink-driver feared for fish

Stuart Jenkins was over the limit as he drove his van to the rescue, after his former partner said she was going to get rid of several tanks containing his fish.

Jenkins, 58, of Clarenden Road, South Shore, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said police stopped Jenkins on August 15 at 1.15am as he drove a Vauxhall Combo van on Lytham Road.

A breath test showed 50 microgrammes of alcohol in his body – 35 is the limit.

Hugh Pond, defending, said Jenkins had been to a funeral and a wake the day before. He took a taxi home and then got a call from his former partner.

Jenkins, a tropical fish enthusiast, and his ex then had a disagreement and she threatened to get rid of several tanks of fish he kept at her address. Mr Pond added: “I don’t think the fish were destroyed.”

Jenkins was sentenced to a six-month community order with up to 15 days’ rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service and banned from the road for three years by District Judge Margaret McCormack at Blackpool Magistrates.