A CAR driver mounted the pavement in a vain attempt to evade the law after he threw orange juice at another man, York magistrates heard.

Prosecutor Richard Fox said that police ordered Stephen Mark Rix, 29, to stop when they saw his argument with another motorist in Garfield Terrace off Leeman Road, York, at about 10.50am on February 1.

Rix got away by driving his Rover partly on the pavement, but crashed into a silver Audi parked in nearby Bright Street.

Rix, of Baker Street, off Burton Stone Lane, York, pleaded guilty to failing to stop in Garfield Terrace, careless driving in Bright Street and driving without a test certificate and without insurance. He was not charged in connection with throwing orange juice.

Magistrates fined him £125 with £55 court costs and put eight points on his licence.

Mr Fox said police were investigating why traffic was tailing back from Garfield Terrace on to Leeman Road when they saw Rix throw the orange juice.

When he drove off, they lost him, but found him again after he crashed in Bright Street.

For Rix, Kevin Blount said he panicked when the police ordered him to stop. He had thought he was insured but had not told his insurance company he had changed cars. He had believed the car he bought had a test certificate. The Bright Street crash occurred because he lost control in icy conditions.

Updated: 10:47 Tuesday, September 16, 2003