An ex-barrow rugby star caught with quantities of illegal drugs managed to hotfoot it from the law while being led into a police station.

Stewart Rhodes dashed up the bonnet and roof of a nearby car before leaping over a wall but he was later tracked down.

He had been in possession of more than £1,000 worth of substances while at the wheel of a car on the motorway.

Rhodes, 32, of Long Lane, Dalton, had pleaded guilty to one offence of possessing amphetamine with intent to supply. An application to change the plea to not guilty was refused at a Preston Crown Court hearing by the judge.

Rhodes has also pleaded guilty to the simple possession of amphetamine, cannabis and cocaine and one charge of escape.

Jo Shepherd, prosecuting, said that on the afternoon of October 11 last year two police constables stopped a Subaru vehicle on the north-bound section of the M6 at Euxton, Lancashire, with Rhodes at the wheel.

An unusual smell was noted and suspected to be cannabis. The car was searched and a tobacco tin containing cannabis resin and amphetamine was found.

The defendant was taken to Leyland police station. When he arrived, £20 worth of cocaine was found in a paper wrap near where he had been sitting.

Miss Shepherd said that while Rhodes was walking towards a door at the police station he ran away, went up the bonnet of a police car, on to the car roof and then jumped over a wall. Despite giving chase, officers were unable to catch him.

When the Subaru vehicle was later searched with the aid of a police dog, 229 grammes of amphetamine, worth between £1,170 and £2,340 on the street, was recovered.

Rhodes was later arrested and the court heard he had seven previous convictions for ten offences.

Defence barrister Richard Bennett said Rhodes had genuine psychiatric problems and depression. He did not have a history of drug offences, but in the past had admitted using cannabis.

Mr Bennett explained: "There can be no doubt that since the break up of the defendant's marriage and the subsequent problems with contact with his children, this defendant has for some period of time suffered from significant and genuine depression.

"It seems that initially, rather than seek help in a legitimate and sensible way from the medical authorities, the defendant has taken to the taking of illicit substances."

The court heard that at one time Rhodes had been someone of considerable sporting ability. He turned professional at the age of 17 and for nine years played rugby for Barrow, also appearing for Carlisle and Widnes.

"It is a great pity that he resorted in the way he did to substances, rather than seeking help in a legitimate and sensible way," added his barrister.

The lawyer suggested that it would be in the public's long-term interest and that of the defendant if a prison sentence was not passed in the case.

Judge Anthony Russell QC made an 18 months' community rehabilitation order. He said he felt the public interest would be best served by not sending Rhodes to prison.