A teenager required to produce driving documents for police gave her mum's name, resulting in a summons being issued in the parent's name.

Suspicion fell on Shamela Patel when authorities were told the mum was out of the country at the time.

The nineteen-year-old later admitted she had given a wrong name because she wasn't covered by car insurance on the date last August.

Patel of Fountains Avenue, Blackburn, appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court for perverting the course of justice and not having motor insurance.

She was given a community order involving twelve months supervision and fifty hours unpaid work.

David Macro, prosecuting, said the teenager was driving a Peugeot 305 in Blackburn and while the vehicle was in a queue of traffic a police officer approached. She was asked to pull over because she or a passenger was apparently not wearing a seat belt.

Patel was warned about the matter and asked to produce driving documents.

A summons was later issued in the name of Mehrunisha Patel which was returned with the information that she was out of the country at the time.

A trial date was fixed, but proceedings were discontinued when it was realised false details had been given.

The defendant was arrested in March. She told police she gave her mother's name in an attempt to avoid prosecution for not having insurance cover.

She was a learner driver, who had been supervised at the time and showing L plates.

Defence barrister Miss Judith McCullough said: "She is remorseful for what she did. She doesn't drive now at all."

The judge, Recorder Howard Bentham QC, told Patel people who tried to pervert the course of justice normally went to prison.

The teenager was given a six months driving ban.