A MAN arrested after doing a good turn for a friend shouted: "Hell" at magistrates when they jailed him for four months.

Stephen Higginbottom manoeuvred a car down a narrow alleyway so his friend could move furniture into a new home.

But Higginbottom, 38, of New Chapel Street, Blackburn, admitted driving while banned, without insurance, possessing a two-inch long locking knife as an offensive weapon and failing to answer bail.

He denied failing to provide a breath test specimen but was found guilty of the offence after a trial in his absence.

In addition to jailing Higginbottom, Blackpool magistrates banned him from driving for 18 months.

Prosecutor, Jayne Barty, said police saw the defendant driving a Ford Escort estate along a back alley in Blackpool. A knife was found on him.

Police said he was under the influence of drink or drugs, but Higginbottom refused to provide a specimen. He appeared to become more dazed and was taken to hospital.

Paul Schofield, defending, said: "My client suffers regularly from panic attacks and this is what happened that night. He did not know he had been asked to provide a specimen. He says no alcohol or drugs played a part in these matters."

Higginbottom had bought the knife as a present and believed it was legal.