A MOTORIST whose friend was summoned to appear in court after he lied to police has kept his freedom.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Imran Hussain, 20, told the "most elaborate set of lies," after he was stopped by officers and gave the friend's details -- and a judge told him people had gone to jail for doing just what he did.

Judge Lesley Newton gave the defendant 120 hours community service and told him if he did not do it he would go to jail.

Hussain, of Princess Street, Nelson, had admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and not having insurance.

David Bentley, prosecuting, said a police officer was suspicious after the defendant gave his details. But Hussain denied he had lied and took the officer to a nearby house.

There Hussain spoke to a small child and when the officer asked the child the defendant's name, he gave the friend's name.

The officer was then shown a framed picture of a cricket team hanging on the wall which included Hussain. At that point he had no reason to believe the details given to him were incorrect.

Mr Bentley said the friend was spoken to by police about the paper work and he was summoned. Hussain was later identified at another address.

Richard Taylor, defending, said Hussain was trying to avoid detection for driving without insurance and he gave a former schoolfriend's name.

Police very quickly put two and two together after the friend was summoned.

The defendant had been extremely foolish but once a person had dug a hole they sometimes found it very difficult to get out of it. Hussain was not heavily convicted and was looking for work.