A TEENAGER who got behind the wheel whilst banned felt custody would do him no harm -- and Burnley magistrates agreed and sent him there.

The court had heard how soon-to-be-homeless Stephen James McNally, 18, had not co-operated with a probation order and openly admitted he was likely to take the same approach with community service.

McNally, of Gannow Lane, Burnley, was sent to detention for three months, after the bench said they had no alternative. He was also banned from driving for 12 months, after admitting driving whilst disqualified and no insurance. The court was told the defendant had been ordered off the road until October 2002 and had committed his second driving whilst disqualified offence in a short space of time. Richard Taylor, defending, said there was no evidence of bad driving. McNally knew the powers of the court.

He had not co-operated with a probation order and very openly and honestly admitted he was not likely to co-operate with a community service order either.

Mr Taylor urged the court to pass a short sentence. McNally had only driven a short distance.