A 74-YEAR-OLD pedestrian was sent flying in the air and landed on his head after being hit by a car which mounted the pavement after coliding with the rear of another vehicle.

Blackburn magistrates heard the driver stopped and called the emrgency services even though he was not insured, didn't have a full licence and had taken the car without consent.

Lee Isaac Levy, 31, of Leicester Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to unauthorised taking aggravated by the accident, driving without due care, without insurance or licence.

He was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work, banned from driving for 18 months and fined £330 with £300 compensation and £165 costs.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the car involved was his girlfriend's.

"He knew she would not give him permission to take it because he doesn't have a licence," said Miss Allan.

"He had driven to Leyland to do a job and on the way back encountered stationary traffic in Livesey Branch Road."

Miss Allan said Levy ran into the back of a car, writing it off, and then mounted the pavement hitting the pedestrian.

Imran Hussain, defending, said Levy and his partner had started a new carpet business shortly before the incident and he had driven to Leyland to complete a job.

"He accepts he misjudged the situation and hit the other car and then the pedestrian," said Mr Hussain. "To his credit he remained at the scene and it was him who called the emergency services."