A  motorist sped away from the police on Blackburn Road while under the influence of alcohol and crashed into a hedge.

Police spotted a Renault Clio on the road in the town in the early hours of the morning driving at speed.

Bolton Crown Court heard Dylan Taher, the driver, failed to stop for police and sped off with passengers inside.

Timothy Ashmole, prosecuting, said: “On May 27 this year at 1.35am a PC was on mobile patrol.

“They observed a vehicle on Blackburn Road drive at excess speed.

“Mr Taher drove off, he created significant risk to members of the public.

“He drove at three times the speed limit on Blackburn Road.

“He overtook vehicles at excessive speeds.

“He nearly had a head on collision before leaving the carriageway.”

The chase ended when Taher hit a hedge on Darwen Road.

He was breathalysed and found to have 58 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Taher, 21 and from Highfield Drive, Farnworth, appeared in court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.

Kevin Murtagh, defending, said: “I have explained to him what could happen today.

“He is a man of extremely good character.

“He is very embarrassed and very ashamed of himself.

“He did assist the police, he said he was drunk.

“He has made a grave mistake.”

Recorder John Close said: “These courts deal with driving cases of far less severity than this that have resulted in people being dead or gravely injured.

“It is only through chance you find that what you did that night has not caused devastating loss.

“What you did that night could have resulted in the catastrophic loss of a loved one.”

But he added: “What is significant is you have no previous convictions or cautions recorded against you and character matters.

“The presentence report is extremely positive and you are a hard working young man in full time employment with the support of your family and employer who knows about this and stands by you.”

He suspended a sentence of nine months for a year and ordered him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He also banned him from the roads for a year and ordered him to complete an extended retest before he can drive.