A MOTORIST driving an Audi on cloned plates sped off after being "eye-balled" by a police officer who had previously arrested him.

Blackburn magistrates heard the officer followed Benjamin David Lee onto a car park and managed to get nose-to-nose with him before he manoeuvred his way back onto the road.

He went the wrong way down Craddock Road, Colne, at 60mph towards a blind bend and traffic lights and the officer decided it was too dangerous to follow.

Less than three weeks later Lee was again seen behind the wheel of a car and after colliding with a parked vehicle got out and ran off.

Lee, 20, of Laithe Street, Colne, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance and failing to stop for a police officer.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison suspended for two years, disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £128 victim surcharge. The court heard Lee had appeared before Burnley Crown Court on May 25 and was made subject to a suspended prison sentence for dangerous driving.

Trevor Grice, defending, said his client had been going through a difficult period in his life.

"All the matters he faces today were committed before that court date in May and they should all have been dealt with at the same time," said Mr Grice.

"If the judge had been aware of all matters he would still have imposed a suspended sentence although the term of imprisonment may have been a little longer."