A driver who was followed onto a petrol station by police raced off as the officer was making checks on the police national computer.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Valeem Barkat reached speeds of more than 70 mph, forced other vehicles to take evasive action, and shot a red light as he tried to escape.

The checks eventually revealed that at the time Barkat was already on bail to Preston Crown Court for an offence of dangerous driving.

Barkat, 32, of Claret Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

He was sent in custody to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced for all matters on Tuesday, December 17.

Victoria Forrest, prosecuting, said the officer followed the Volkswagen Golf driven by Barkat into the petrol station close to the roundabout at the town centre end of Hyndburn Road at about 3.30pm on a Sunday.

"While the officer was undertaking checks the defendant set off at speed, travelling up Milnshaw Lane," said Miss Forrest.

She played dashcam footage from the police car which showed Barkat fail to give way at the junction with Burnley Road where he turned away from the town centre.

He reached speeds in excess of 70mph, overtaking other vehicles and forcing oncoming traffic to take evasive action.

There was a near collision when he went through a red light at the junction with Queens Road.

He eventually turned into Ribblesdale Avenue where he abandoned his car and ran off. He was tracked by a police dog and found hiding nearby and subsequently arrested.

Miss Forrest said as well as the dangerous driving pending sentence at the Crown Court, Barkat had a similar conviction in 2018 and a drug driving conviction from 2023.

"The Crown would say he is a risk to the general public," said Miss Forrest. "He drove in this way to try and evade the police."