A NELSON teenager sent to custody after a "catalogue of appalling crime" asked a court for a chance and got it.

Burnley Crown Court heard the illiterate 17-year-old was of previous good character until about a year ago, but then embarked on 'months of madness,' mainly involving car crime.

The defendant, who wants to be a mechanic, appealed against a 12-month term of detention imposed by Burnley youth court and Recorder David Eccles, sitting with two magistrates, replaced it with a 12-month community rehabilitation order instead.

The judge said, in truth, the appellant could not complain about the custodial term imposed after he was convicted of allegations of theft, driving while disqualified, making off without payment and car theft.

But, he added, the appellant had been given a referral order last July which had not had the chance to bite and a four month detention and training order last August, when a lot of the offences dealt with by Burnley youth court could have been sentenced.

Recorder Eccles told the teenager, who has served the equivalent of a four-month sentence behind bars, the bench was prepared to take a chance as he was showing some signs of settling down and acquiring skills.

The judge added the bench had thought 'long and hard' about their decision -- and warned the youth jail awaited if he came back before the courts.