A NIGHTMARE visit to Blackburn came back to haunt a Northamptonshire businessman six years later.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Bhagwant Singh phoned the police after having £5,000 stolen from his lorry after parking up for the night prior to making an early morning delivery.

He called the police, but when they came to investigate, they smelled drink and wanted to breathalyse Singh.

John Greenwood, defending, said his client had no intention of driving that night and had refused to give a sample. And when a solicitor, no longer practising, had written to tell him the case had been discontinued he thought the matter was at an end.

"To his surprise my client was arrested last week on a warrant issued when he failed to appear in court in November 1997," said Mr Greenwood.

Sing, 59, of Washbrook Road, Rushden, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis. The case was adjourned until January 16 when he will argue special reasons why he should not be disqualified. Singh was remanded on bail.