DRINK-driver David Nuttall did his best to outrun police and avoid arrest. A Bury court was told how Nuttall (30) of Cherwell Close, Whitefield, ignored flashing lights and sirens as he sped away in his car.

He travelled at almost twice the legal speed limit in a built-up area before losing control, careering up a grass embankment, and crashing head-on into a telephone box.

Prosecuting, Dr Roger Woods said that even then Nuttall, a mobile crane driver, refused to give himself up. When a police officer went to the front of the crashed vehicle Nuttall leapt out of the driving seat and ran away.

Just over 30min later the officer spotted Nuttall walking near the crash scene. When challenged, he blamed the incident on "woman trouble".

A breath-test showed Nuttall to have drunk more than three times the legal limit, with 116 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the limit being 35. In court Nuttall pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop for a police officer, failing to stop after an accident, and failing to report an accident.

Defending, Mr John Canton said the incident followed a tiff with his girl-friend and he would now lose his job.

He was fined a total of £1,000, banned from driving for 30 months, given a twelve months' conditional discharge, and ordered to pay £50 costs.

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