A 26-year-old Great Harwood man drove at speed without lights in an attempt to get away from police, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Adrian Sutherland Ball eventually crashed into a wall and at first it was feared he may have broken his back in the collision.

Ball, of Cliffe Lane, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop when required and failing to provide a breath test.

He was sentenced to 90 days in prison suspended for two years, disqualified from driving for three years and fined £100 with £75 costs.

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said a police car being driven down the A59 had to swerve to avoid a collision when Ball drove on to the carriageway from a side road without stopping.

He was followed to the Wiswell roundabout and then towards Great Harwood reaching a speed of 80 mph.

He initially stopped as requested at the turn off for Sabden.

"The officer suspected that if he got out of his car Ball would drive off and he called for a second patrol car," said Miss Worsley.

"Before that arrived the defendant did drive off and turned his lights off before turning into Old Roman Road.

He was travelling at about 50 mph without lights on for about 100m."