A POLICE car had to take evasive action as William Cameron swerved to avoid a parked vehicle.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when the police turned and stopped Cameron he virtually fell out of his car and was extremely unsteady on his feet.

Cameron, 56, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance and failing to provide a specimen at the police station.

The magistrates adjourned the case until December 22 for the preparation of pre sentence reports after hearing that in May Cameron had been sent to prison for five months and disqualified from driving for five years for driving while disqualified and with excess alcohol.

Wendy Shackleton, prosecuting, said the officers were driving along Audley Range when they saw a car travelling towards them. It swerved to miss a parked vehicle, narrowly avoiding a collision.

"As it swerved it went into the path of the police car and the officer had to take evasive action," said Miss Shackleton. She said Cameron gave a positive roadside sample but failed to give a proper sample at the police station despite being given several opportunities.

The court heard that Cameron had 13 previous convictions for driving while disqualified and another drink driving conviction in August 1999.

Roger Pickles, defending, said Cameron is not a well man. "These are clearly very serious matters, but he says that if you send him to prison he will die," said Mr Pickles.

"He has had an operation for a brain tumour but unfortunately another has been found and he is awaiting an operation for that."