A SPEEDING motorist who knocked down a pedestrian, throwing him into the air, has been sent to prison for 15 months.

Burnley Crown Court heard David Freeman -- who was not insured and had no licence -- drove off after the accident which has had disastrous consequences for victim Arif Alam. Mr Alam spent 12 days in hospital, walks with crutches and was left with a bruised brain.

The defendant, 27, sobbed as the court heard how Mr Alam has suffered memory loss, and undergone a personality change which had had an adverse effect on his family life. His planned arranged marriage has had to be cancelled and he still faced surgery and psychiatric treatment.

Sentencing him, Recorder Neil Flewitt said at the time of the offences, in May, Freeman had been on licence from a three-year jail term, was going far too fast for the road conditions and lost control. He was still travelling at between 24 and 30mph when he hit the victim.

He went on: "I must not be over- influenced by the impact on the victim, but I am entitled to take it into account and I do."

Freeman, of Fife Street, Accrington, was also banned from driving for three years and must take an extended driving test. He admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident, no insurance and no licence.

John O'Shea, prosecuting, said a friend Kirk Marshall agreed to go in the car with the defendant because Freeman told him some men had been "giving him some grief." Freeman got out, was punched by one man and then got back in the vehicle, reaching 60mph on Willows Lane, Accrington, heading towards Blackburn Road.

By this stage, Mr Marshall had become very frightened by the defendant's driving and as Freeman swerved to avoid a collision, he hit Mr Alam, who was standing by the side of the road. He was flung into the air and landed in front of the car, but Freeman refused to stop and drove off.

Mr O'Shea said immediately before the accident, Freeman had been seen doing handbrake turns.

Jacob Dyer, defending, said Freeman accepted he had been driving too fast. He had been trying to get away from his attackers as quickly as possible and thought he was being chased. He denied doing handbrake turns.

He went on: "The defendant thinks about what happened every day and has no intention of driving again. It has greatly affected him. He says he is now free from any hard drugs."