A 21 year old man escaped a prison sentence after a court heard he had kept out of trouble for over 12 months.

Blackburn magistrates heard Bradley Wane Holden had crashed a car which he had driven away from Darwen Leisure Centre after a friend took the key out of a locker.

District Judge James Clarke told Holden the offence merited a custodial sentence.

"Had it been dealt with closer to the date of the offence that would have been an immediate sentence.

"There has been a lot of water under the bridge since then and you have been out of trouble for over 12 months," he said.

Holden, of Jethro Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to handling a stolen car key and unauthorised vehicle taking aggravated by damage caused to the vehicle. He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for six months and ordered to pay £200 compensation, £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge. He was banned from driving for 12 months.

Adam Whittaker, defending, said at the time of the offence there was a pattern of behaviour and had he come before the court immediately Holden would almost certainly have gone straight back to prison.

"He has settled down since then," said Mr Whittaker. "He has distanced himself from old acquaintances and most importantly he is now father to a young child. Basically, he has grown up."