A DARWEN soldier promoted to the high profile reconnaissance platoon of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment was caught driving while disqualified - on a moped.

Blackburn magistrates heard Barry Paul Devitt ran off when he saw the police but was arrested after a short chase.

Devitt, 19, of Ivinson Road, Darwen, was fined a total of £700 with £55 costs after pleading guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance. He was disqualified for three years.

Wendy Shackleton, prosecuting, said Devitt was disqualified for 12 months on January 20 for allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car. On February 20 he was seen riding a moped in Darwen.

Brent Patterson, defending, said Devitt was with friends who were messing about with the moped.

"He stupidly had a go but had only travelled a couple of hundred metres when he saw the police," said Mr Patterson.

Lieutenant Mark Moutarde said Devitt was a hard working soldier. "A custodial sentence would cut short a bright future for a potentially good soldier," he said.

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