A prolific offender convicted of dangerous driving has had his sentence deferred to allow him to have hospital treatment on a ‘significant gangrene problem’.

Simon Moore, of Barnes Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty at dangerous driving, driving without a licence and insurance, and while subject to a suspended prison sentence order.

Judge Jonathan Gibson said he will defer the 49-year-old’s sentence until December 2 so he can ‘have the medical treatment he needs’.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Moore, who has 61 previous convictions, was chased for seven minutes by police from Oswaldtwistle to Accrington in the early hours of April 13 this year.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said Moore was driving a white Transit van with cloned number plates in a ‘highly dangerous’ way and failed to stop when officers activated their emergency lights.

The court heard how Moore reached speeds of 47mph in 30mph zones and ‘on occasions appeared to slam his brakes hard’ to ‘try and cause a collision’ with the pursuing police officer.

Mr McEntee said Moore crashed into a parked Jeep before trying to flee on foot but was caught by the officer. The prosecutor said Moore tried to resist the arrest and showed ‘considerable aggression’ to the police.

When Moore was later interviewed, he said he had been asked to collect the van by a friend and ‘panicked’ when he saw the police.

Richard Taylor, defending, told the court: “The defendant has a significant problem with gangrene in his groin and requires re-constructive surgery. It is a five-stage reconstruction.

“The invitation I must make is really a plea for mercy and to give consideration to a further suspended sentence or deferring the sentence.

“He fully accepts by his behaviour he has messed up things for himself. The dangerous driving was not the worst sort of example seen in these courts and he fully cooperated with the police after his arrest.

“He will be 50 next year. It’s time that he looked after his health and not behaved in a manner that brings him back before the courts.”

Judge Gibson extended Moore’s interim driving disqualification until the sentencing hearing and said the defendant ‘can expect a sentence which doesn’t involve immediate custody’ if he stays out of trouble.