Police who tried to stop a car because of its poor condition ended up in a high speed pursuit.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard that after crashing his vehicle into a fence, Martin Carroll reversed it towards the police vehicle which had stopped behind.

He pulled up short of a collision before speeding off, forcing police to continue the chase.

Carroll, 43, of Stockbridge Road, Padiham, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop for a police officer, driving with excess alcohol, without insurance and other than in accordance with a licence.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a six-month alcohol treatment requirement and 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was also disqualified from driving for 21 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

Courtney Thompson, prosecuting, said officers were parked on the Texaco garage in Padiham Road, Burnley, when their attention was drawn to a Vauxhall Astra because of its poor condition on April 26.

The car was being driven slowly, but when police activated their lights it sped off, swerving into the centre of the road at excessive speed.

The car crashed into a fence as it was turned onto a dirt track.

"The police came up behind to prevent him reversing out," said Miss Thompson.

"He reversed towards the police car before putting the car in forward gear and driving off down the dirt track."

Carroll eventually stopped the car and ran off, but was quickly detained and arrested.

At the police station, he gave a breathalyser reading of 86 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, more than double the lega limit of 35mcg.

Nick Cassidy, mitigating, said his client had cooperated fully after he had been arrested and realised how foolish he had been.

He said prior to 2020 Carroll had been a regular visitor to the courts, but since then had made efforts to change his life.

"He thought his days of appearing in court were long gone," said Mr Cassidy.

"He feels he has let himself, his partner and his family down, and it is his intention to remain offence-free for the rest of his life."

Drink driver who took police on high-speed chase 'let family down'