A LATVIAN man working in Grassington wilfully obstructed a police officer by claiming he was the driver of a car involved in an accident, heard Skipton magistrates.

Elgars Reingolds, 25, was one of three men in a car that crashed off the B6265 at Threshfield last month.

For a reason he could not explain, Reingolds falsely told police he had been driving at the time, the court was told.

Both he and the driver had been drinking and to establish the facts, officers had to use body-mapping, said Martin Butterworth, prosecuting.

The technique showed the driver's seatbelt had been worn by the other man - Ilgonis Sperlins who admitted drink driving and was dealt with earlier this month. Sperlins was banned from driving for a year and fined £300, with costs of £265.

Reingolds, speaking through an interpreter, admitted obstructing Pc Champion at Harrogate Police Station on October 25.

In mitigation, Jane Nield said Reingolds had a wife and child at home in Latvia and was working in Grassington, at Dales Dairies, to earn money to send home.

She said he could earn as much money in a week as in a month in Latvia and although struggled to be away from his family, he wanted the best for them.

"He finds it difficult to be away from his family, but is trying to do his best for them," she said.

Miss Nield added Reingolds could not explain why he had claimed he was the driver of the car, but that he had been dragged from the car and was in a panicked state.

"He was very shaken up and he has said he did not know it was an offence to drink drive. He did not appreciate by saying what he did , he ended up being in even more trouble."

Reingolds, of Town Head, Highcroft, Grassington, was given a 12 month conditional discharge. He will have to pay £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and £15 surcharge.