Man told police his friend had taken his car

Adam Saunders was asked the name of the friend but he refused to reveal it to police.

Saunders, a 30-year-old engineer, of The Rowans, Greenhalgh, pleaded guilty to failing to give information relating to the driver of a car believed to have been guilty of an offence on November 16 this year.

He was fined £475 with £85 costs, ordered to pay a £150 court charge with £47 victims’surcharge and had six motoring penalty points put on his driving licence by Blackpool magistrates.

Jim Mowbray, prosecuting, said a witness saw a damaged BMW, which appeared to have been in a road traffic accident, being parked up a farm driveway near Moss Side Lane, Lytham.

Police were alerted and while they were examining the vehicle Saunders came up.

He told an officer: “It’s my car. My friend took it.

“I have been trying to find him.”

An officer was suspicious when Saunders refused to disclose the friend’s name. A piece of glass was found in Saunders wallet and police could smell alcohol on his breath.

A roadside breath test on Saunders proved positive for alcohol but no drink-related offence was brought against him.

Saunders defence said his client had no previous convictions and a clean driving licence.