A TEENAGE motorist who knocked down a late night reveller outside Blakey's Bar, in Blackburn town centre, drove away when a crowd surrounded his vehicle and he became frightened.

Blackburn magistrates heard that pedestrian Christopher Slater was sent flying and knocked unconscious after colliding with the car, which witnesses said was travelling at excess speed.

Zuber Faruk Jogee, 18, of Alder Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident and possession of a lock-knife. He was fined a total of £150 with £65 costs and disqualified from driving for six months.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said it happened at about 11.45pm as Mr Slater left Blakey's and crossed Northgate to meet friends in F J Nichols.

"Mr Slater was thrown into the air before landing unconscious and the driver made no effort to stop," said Mr Harrison.

He drove down several side streets before joining Preston New Road, where he was stopped. The lock-knife was found on the driver's side sun visor.

Basharat Ditta, defending, said Jogee was a man of previous good character who held a clean licence and before the court for the first time because of an unfortunate set of circumstances.

Mr Ditta said Jogee had been driving quite properly at the time of the incident. "There is no allegation of speeding or driving without due care laid against him," said Mr Ditta. "On the night of the incident there were a lot of people milling around outside Blakey's Bar and the majority of them had been drinking.

"The person who was knocked down had been drinking."

"When it happened, all the people from the pubs came out and surrounded his car. He was frightened and he drove off ."