A dangerous driver led police on a high-speed chase through narrow streets in the early hours of the morning before crashing into a lamppost.

Preston Crown Court heard Aashir Rehman, 20, sped around the streets of Nelson at around 4.30am on January 6, completing a three-mile chase in around four minutes.

It was said that in Rehman's pre-sentence report, he claimed he had gone to buy a car that morning, but given the time of day, Judge Michael Maher dismissed this as a "cock and bull story".

Katy Appleton, prosecuting, said PC Whitworth sighted Rehman driving a red Renault Megane on the date in question and began following it to conduct a PNC check.

When Rehman, who had his younger brother in the passenger seat of the vehicle, noticed the police were following him, he sped away.

The pursuit continued down Scotland Road, Forrest Street, Barrowford Road, Every Street, Calder Street, and Carr Street with Rehman performing dangerous manoeuvres in this time such as going the wrong way around a roundabout.

The chase came to an abrupt end when the officer turned into Carr Street and saw Rehman had crashed the vehicle into a lamppost.

The defendant was arrested and when searched was found to have two snap bags of cannabis on his person.

He was taken to hospital where he refused to provide a blood sample for analysis.

Lewis Bocking, mitigating, said this was a "particularly bad episode of dangerous driving."

He described how Rehman "panicked and drove off" when he saw the police lights, which was "an incredibly foolish and reckless decision."

Rehman, of Burns Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possession of cannabis, and failing to provide a sample.

Judge Maher, sentencing, said: "You sought to evade the police. Why? Well, it's perfectly obvious, you were smoking cannabis.

"You covered three miles in four minutes during that chase. You put your life in danger, you put your brother's life in danger.

"It's little wonder you ultimately crashed into a lamppost.

"You said in your pre-sentence report you had been out to buy a car at 4am and you just had a 'few tokes'. I don't buy that.

"Mr Bocking had the good sense not to advance that in mitigation given how ridiculous it is."

The judge sentenced Rehman to 10 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He must complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 180 hours of unpaid work.

He will also be disqualified from driving for two years and must complete an extended re-test.