A 21-year-old Darwen man was caught behind the wheel when he was already subject to three separate driving bans.

Blackburn magistrates jailed Usman Akhter for four months after hearing it was his 12th offence of driving while disqualified.

Akhter, of Avalon Way, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance, breaching a community order imposed for driving while disqualified.

He had previously been convicted in his absence of assaulting Tristran Williams. As well as the prison sentence he was banned for a further three years.

Peter Wild, prosecuting, said the assault had an aspect of road rage in it. He said Akhter was a passenger in a car which clipped wing mirrors with another vehicle in Barley Street, Darwen.

Both cars stopped and Akhter approached Mr Williams, grabbed him by the throat and removed his car keys.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client took a realistic view of the prospect of him going to prison for the disqualified driving offence.

"He still denies the assault but has to accept the conviction," said Mr Taylor. He said the driving offence had involved him reversing the car off a car park for his girlfriend.

"He did not intend driving any further than that but accepts it was a foolish thing to do," said Mr Taylor.