A PORSCHE driver who clocked up about 80mph overtaking four cars on a 30mph country road picked the wrong moment - he was captured on police video.

Matthew John Ayrton, 31, was said to have lost control as he braked heavily, causing the back of the coupe vehicle to rise up and the rear wheels to lift off the road. A trail of smoke and debris was coming from the rear tyres, Burnley Magistrates Court heard.

Ayrton, said to have gone for a spin around Colne to unwind after work, sobbed as his solicitior told a district judge the "moment of madness" had cost the defendant not only his licence but his partner, whose father had bought the vehicle for them. John Mewies said the Porsche 924 was an old, small four cylinder model and nothing like those driven by footballers and the like.

Ayrton, of Ivegate, Colne, admitted dangerous driving on Keighley Road, Laneshawbridge..An allegation of speeding was dismissed. He had been staring a jail term of up to six months in the face, but was spared even though the judge said she considered the offence very serious.

He was given a 12 month community order, with 100 hours unpaid work. Ayrton, who was also ordered to pay £70 costs, was banned from driving for a year and must take an extended re-rest.

The court was told the speed recorded by police at 7.20pm, last August 21, was 77mph but that was when the car had already braked. Ayrton braked so harshly the back wheels left the road and the back end of the car became out of control. He swerved onto the wrong side of the road and then went back into his own lane as a car came in the opposite direction.

Mr Mewies, for Ayrton, said there was no suggestion any motorist was coming in the opposite direction at the time of the overtaking. Ayrton was observed by a civilian police employee carrying out speed checks and was reported. The defendant was invited to the police station for an interview and attended.

The Porsche was not owned by the defendant, but had been bought for Ayrton and his then girlfriend by her father. The vehicle was a classic, worth about £8,000 or £9,000.

Mr Mewies said the defendant had finished work and was simply driving around to relax and unwind. He knew the road well.

The solicitor continued :"For one moment, and one moment of madness only, he allowed his speed clearly to exceed the permitted speed and he did so in order to overtake these four slower moving vehicles."

Mr Mewies added it was not perhaps the worst case of dangerous driving the court would have to deal with. There was no evidence of inconvenience to other road users and no suggestion of any collision or accident.

It was always refuted by the defendant that he momentarily lost control. There was nothing on the video to indicate he lost conrrol, but there was perhaps an indication of some fairly harsh braking.

Mr Mewies said Ayrton, who had a reasonably good driving record, had become estraged from his girlfriend because of the proceedings but her father was wholly supportive of him. The solicitor added a driving ban would certainly cause inconvenience to the defendant and his employers.