A DRINK-driver attempted to evade police by hiding behind a bush in Barrow town centre.

Louis Moran-Swallow told South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court that he tried to hide from officers ‘in a moment of panic’ after he was pulled over.

Prosecutor Carl Gaffney told the court that Moran-Swallow’s Citroen C1 was seen leaving the Hotel Imperial in Cornwallis Street.

“A short time later police see the vehicle and approach it,” the prosecutor said.

“The defendant appears to notice them and seeks to leave.

“There isn’t a pursuit; it would be an exaggeration to say there was but certainly he drives off.

“Police follow him, he stops and there is a little bit of chicanery; he tries to hide behind some bushes but it’s all quite clumsy and there is no artfulness in it.

“There was no kicking off with police.”

At the roadside the 20-year-old provided a breath sample which had a reading of 55 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35mcg.

Moran-Swallow, of Ings Way East in Huddersfield, was then arrested and provided a second breath sample which had a reading of 48mcg.

“The alcohol is going down from the point he takes the roadside test,” Mr Gaffney added.

“His deportment is clearly one of a man who takes the courts seriously.”

Representing himself, Moran-Swallow apologised to the court, and described his attempt to hide from police as a ‘moment of panic’.

“It was more a moment of panic than trying to hide,” the defendant said.

“I was planning on sleeping in my car.

"I know I shouldn’t have driven.”

Moran-Swallow pleaded guilty to driving with an alcohol level above the proscribed limit.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months, fined £220 and was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

If he completes the drink-drivers rehabilitation course before June 2020 his driving ban will be reduced by 13 weeks and come to an end on August 13, 2020.