Driver gave his brother's name to police

Blake Nixon pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the town centre incident on May 5 when he appeared before magistrates.

The 24-year-old, of Sullivan Way, Scholes, admitted to driving without relevant insurance, without a licence and obstructing an officer in execution of his duty.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon said: “The defendant was driving a silver BMW along Millgate at 1.20am. Officers stopped the vehicle because he had no lights displayed. The defendant identified himself as Anthony Gregory and gave a date of birth of January 1, 1997.

“He said he had owned the vehicle for four days and had bought it from his mother.”

The officers made the relevant checks and found a valid driving licence and no insurance.

Nixon was told that the vehicle was going to be seized and asked the police: “What if I said it wasn’t my vehicle?”

The officers pointed out that he had already said it was his vehicle and he walked away.

When he was interviewed by police, he said that he gave his brother’s details because he “didn’t want to lose my car and I didn’t want to fall out with my family, I was scared”.

The court heard how Nixon, who was banned from driving for 16 months in 2011 for drink driving, said he had bought the car from his mother but had not renewed his licence. Defending himself and explaining why he gave his brother’s name instead of his own, Nixon said: “I just panicked. I was waiting a few years for my insurance cost to go down.”

As well as disqualifying Nixon from driving, the presiding magistrate fined him £230 for obstructing an officer. He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £30.