A DRIVER mistook the gesture of another motorist who was involved in a minor accident with him on a motorway, a court heard.

Bernard Denvir, aged 55, of Dunscar Cottage, Blackburn Road, Bolton, admitted failing to stop after an accident on the M60 at Middleton, when he appeared before Rochdale magistrates.

He said the other driver made what appeared to be aggressive motions as he pulled on to the hard shoulder.

The other driver then followed Denvir for five miles before losing him. He telephoned the police.

Mr Mike Church-Taylor, prosecuting, said there had been a minor accident on the M60 as a result of which the other motorist pulled on to the hard shoulder in order to exchange details, but Denvir did not stop.

Denvir acknowledged later that he had failed to stop immediately, but claimed the accident was the fault of the other driver, who went past him scraping the offside bumper.

He interpreted a gesture from the other motorist as aggressive. Denvir said he pulled in to check the damage, which was minor, but later voluntarily went to a police station.

He explained that he had misunderstood the other driver's response.

Denvir, who had a clean licence, was fined £100 and ordered to pay £35 costs. He was also given five penalty points. A further charge of failing to report the accident to the police was dropped.