AN EAST Lancashire comedian who was filmed driving erratically on his way back from York Races has walked free from court.

Burnley-born Jeff Brown, who is best known for his Safestyle UK ‘You buy one you get one free’ adverts, was filmed by someone in a following car crossing white lines and driving on the wrong side of the road in a BMW X5 on the A59 near Beamsley on June 14 last year.

The 45-year-old had been at York Races entertaining the winners of an auction who got to spend the day with him.

Appearing at Bradford Crown Court earlier this week, he was given a suspended prison sentence after admitting a charge of dangerous driving.

Prosecutor David Bradshaw said Brown overtook a couple in a car at about 1am.

Concerned he was driving erratically, they rang police who asked the woman passenger to film Brown on her mobile phone.

The video showed the car driving along the central white line, sometimes crossing it.

Mr Bradshaw said police found the car empty at Skipton Auction Mart and Brown was arrested later that day. Brown denied he had been drinking.

Brown, of Corn Mill Court, Altham, who had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, was sentenced to six months’ jail, suspended for 12 months, banned for 18 months and ordered to take a re-test.

He must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,800 costs.

In mitigation, Joe Boyd listed testimonials from several people and charities.

He said Brown had spent the day at a Help for Heroes auction, where he was host for former servicemen and their parents.

Brown’s driver, who usually assisted him on long days, was ill.

Mr Boyd said: “By 1am the defendant had been on the go in a very stressful situation for a very considerable period.”

Recorder Carl Gumsley described Brown as a man of good character after hearing of work he had done for people and charities.

He commended Joanne Newby and Chris Balmer for recording Brown’s driving and reporting it to the police.