A MOTORIST who failed to stop for police ran off when he eventually brought his car to a halt.

Blackburn magistrates heard Trevor Hewitt was found hiding in a garden by a police dog.

Hewitt, 30, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to failing to stop, failing to provide a breath sample and driving without insurance. He was fined £300 with £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 15 months.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said police started to follow Hewitt's car at 12.35am in Brierfield. He ignored all indications to stop but was not speeding.

"When he did stop he immediately ran off leaving behind a passenger who was clearly drunk," said Miss Akhtar. "The passenger refused to provide any details of the driver but said he had run away because he was also drunk."

Ben Leech, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, described a difficult few months leading up to the offence.

"His long term relationship hit rocky ground and they separated, leaving him with nowhere to live," said Mr Leech. "He works away Monday to Friday and hadn't sorted out anywhere permanent to live.

"On the night of this incident he was eventually captured by a police dog and suffered the bites that go along with that," said Mr Leech.