A BANNED motorist who gave a taxi driver's name to police when he was stopped behind the wheel has been jailed for 90 days.

Choudhry Shafiq, 30, who gave the police false details after he was pulled up after the offence, had previous convictions for excess alcohol and banned driving.

He had tried deliberately to escape prosecution for banned driving, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The cabbie, Tanveer Riaz, a friend of the defendant's, had to attend court twice, lost wages through time off work and suffered stress and "heartache," through the Shafiq's lies.

The consequences of him being convicted of driving allegations would have been serious.

Judge Pamela Badley said: "The cost to Mr Riaz of you being able to put the matter behind you is significant."

The defendant, of Highgate, Nelson, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice, driving whilst disqualified and no insurance, in January 2006. He was banned for two years.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, told the court Shafiq was stopped on the M65 about 10.30pm and was not able to produce his documents.

He was handed a "producer" and gave a false name. Officers took a fingerprint. Mr Riaz was summonsed to Burnley Magistrates Court twice.

Miss Dacre said Shafiq was arrested in March this year, accepted he had been driving in January 2006 and suggested he needed to get to work. He said he had given false details to avoid prosecution for driving whilst disqualified and no insurance. The defendant, who had been banned for drink driving, said he was sorry.

Charles Brown, defending, said in 2006 Shafiq had been extremely foolish. The barrister said: "He has pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and made frank and full admissions to the police when the chickens came home to roost."

The defendant had realised his binge drinking had started to cause problems and he had not had a drink for two years. He had had the insight to see where drink had got him and had cut alcoholn out of his life.

Mr Brown said Shafiq was not workshy.

He added: "He doesn't now pose any danger. He has clearly learned his lesson, has kept out of trouble for 18 months and has clearly had the sense to make the changes in his own circumstances in order to avoid being tempted to repeat the circumstances."