A ZIMBABWEAN asylum seeker, who gave false details to police after being caught speeding in his BMW because he feared a report would be sent to his home government, escaped a prison sentence yesterday.

Simbarashe Taruvinga had been driving south on the A1(M) at Marton-le-Moor, in North Yorkshire, after a visit to his girlfriend in Glasgow in April when he was stopped after being clocked at 90mph.

Simon Ostler, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates how Taruvinga, 25, had given a false name and date of birth to police and maintained the deception when he was charged and taken before the court.

He had been kept in custody for 24 hours while immigration officials investigated the case. When his true identify was disclosed it was found he had been at the wheel in defiance of a 12-month driving ban, imposed last November for not having insurance.

Taruvinga, of Barking, Essex, has relatives in West Yorkshire where a sister was said to be helping him out financially.

He pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance and also admitted speeding and obstructing police.

His solicitor David Camidge said the reason Taruvinga gave false details was because he had been concerned North Yorkshire Police would pass his name on to the Zimbabwean government and harm his chances of gaining asylum in Britain.

Court chairman Pauline Ward told Taruvinga he had been "a tremendous risk" to other road users, ignoring a ban and travelling 20mph over the limit.

"These are serious offences but we have decided we do not need to send you to prison. But if you do it again we may not be able to keep you out."

Taruvinga was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid community work and pay fines of £151 and costs of £40. He was banned from driving for 18 months.