A MOTORIST who clocked up 79 penalty points on his licence has been banned from driving for three years.

Matthew Lee Pollard, 25, gave false details when stopped by police because he did not want to spend the night in the cells -- but gave the number of a man who was wanted on warrant so would have been arrested anyway, the town's magistrates' court was told.

The defendant, of Hollingreave Road, Burnley, who already had 15 points on his licence was given another 64 for the eight counts of not having insurance.

He was fined £150, with £55 costs by a district judge who told him if he gave him the appropriate fine for each no insurance count, it would have cost him £800.