A MAN wanted for dangerous driving was found hiding, fully clothed, in bed by police.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Rae Laing's driving was so reckless that, for public safety, police had to abandon pursuing him.

But the Skoda Fabia he was driving was registered to his girlfriend, and when officers traced it to her house they found him in bed with the car keys beside him.

Virginia Hayton, prosecuting, told how police first encountered the Skoda, which was in a poor condition, just before 1pm on February 23 last year.

The officers waited to allow the car to pass a parked vehicle on Rishton Lane.

"As he drove past the defendant waved at the officers in acknowledgement," said Miss Hayton.

But police, concerned about the car's condition, decided to follow it.

Laing, who had no licence or insurance, sped off, leading police on a chase around the Great Lever area.

At Pennington Road he headed through a no entry sign, driving the wrong way along the road onto Lever Edge Lane.

He hit 50mph in 30mph limit streets, went over speed bumps at speed, skidded around corners and almost collided with a bin lorry on Settle Street.

"The driver was taking more risks to evade capture," said Miss Hayton.

"The driving was, in the officers' opinion, highly dangerous."

Police gave up the chase but, soon afterwards, found the vehicle parked up and locked in Beechwood Street, Great Lever.

Laing was at his girlfriend's house nearby.

"As he got out of bed the officers noticed he was fully clothed and a set of keys for the vehicle was next to him," said Miss Hayton.

Laing denied the offence and then went on the run for 12 months before he was caught.

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Michael Lea, defending, said: "Clearly Mr Laing's behaviour and attitude to this process have given him no assistance."

He added that, after he was caught for the dangerous driving, Laing became homeless and stopped taking his medication.

"He somehow felt these matters had gone away," said Mr Lea.

Laing, aged 35, of South Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and without a licence or insurance.

Judge Richard Gioserano sentenced Laing to eight months in prison and banned him from holding a driving licence for 16 months, after which he will have to take an extended driving test.

He told Laing: "You were going round corners in a clearly dangerous manner.

"It is just good fortune that no one was injured and you are not facing a more serious charge."