A MOTORIST who panicked and drove off after his girlfriend told him he had run over someone and killed them has been fined £1,000.

Blackburn magistrates heard that the injured man had already been hit by a car travelling in the opposite direction and in fact no blame attached to Sajid Mohammed Hanif, who had no chance to avoid the prone body.

But the magistrates heard that he left the scene and did not go to the police until the following day after taking advice from a second solicitor.

Hanif, 28, of Worston Place, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident. The prosecution offered no evidence on a charge of failing to report an accident.

As well as the £1,000 fine he was ordered to pay £80 costs and his licence endorsed with 10 penalty points.

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said the incident happened in October 2001 in Bolton Road, outside Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Terence Cushing, 56, had stepped into the path of a car travelling towards Blackburn town centre. He had been thrown over the bonnet and landed in the middle of the road. As he lay seriously injured, Hanif's car drove over him.

Mr Cushing was still alive when paramedics arrived on the scene but was dead on arrival at the Infirmary.