SOLDIER Joseph Bailey panicked when he saw a police car behind him, because he knew he was not insured.

Blackburn magistrates heard that he sped off at up to 50mph, turned on to a main road without stopping and twice lost control of the car before crashing into a wall.

And before the pursuing officer could get to him, Bailey ran from the crashed car and escaped by climbing over a wall.

Bailey, 18, of Pleckgate Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop when required by a uniformed officer and driving without insurance.

He was fined a total of £300 with £55 costs and disqualified from driving for 12 months. In addition, he must pass an extended driving test before he can hold a full licence again.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said the incident started at about 2.35am on Saturday October 6, when police saw a Ford Sierra being driven up Shear Brow. The officers followed and, as the car turned into St James Road, it accelerated up to 50mph despite there being parked cars on both sides of the road.

John Dewhurst, defending, said the incident represented a moment of madness for a young man of previous good character.