A BMW driver, who was spotted by police using a mobile phone, led them on a chase through residential streets.

Dario Rodrigues, who had no licence after it was revoked on medical grounds, cut corners, drove on the wrong side of the road and failed to indicate as he hurtled down narrow residential streets and a back alley.

After two minutes he abandoned the car and was arrested after trying to flee on foot.

"He was detained almost immediately," Betsy Hindle, prosecuting, told Bolton magistrates.

Rodrigues, of James Street North, Radcliffe and formerly of Little Lever, was due to stand trial accused of dangerous driving, using a mobile phone while driving and having no licence or insurance but changed his plea to guilty.

Miss Hindle told the court how police had first noticed 31-year-old Rodrigues when they spotted him driving a BMW 520 on George Street, Whitefield, at 8.40pm on August 12 last year.

"He was using a mobile phone. The phone was held to his right ear," said Miss Hindle.

"On seeing the police vehicle the defendant put down his mobile phone but failed to stop and began to drive away."

Without slowing, he drove across Bury Old Road into Cross Street and into a ginnel before finally stopping.

The driving was described as not being of the most dangerous kind and Shabir Khattak, defending, told the court that Rodrigues had "panicked" when he saw police.

He stressed that Rodrigues had not taken drink or drugs, no property was damaged and no one injured.

Rodrigues has previous convictions for drink driving and driving without a licence.

For his latest offences magistrates sentenced him to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for two years and he was made subject to an 8pm to 8am curfew for 22 weeks.

He was banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay a total of £315 in costs and charges.