A YOUNG dad who got behind the wheel while banned has got almost six months to prove he can stay on the straight and narrow.

Colin Thomas, 22, did not know he was disqualified when he rushed his daughter to hospital fearing she was suffering from meningitis, Burnley Magistrates was told.

Thomas had sentence deferred until December 2 by magistrates.

They told Thomas they wanted him to comply with a current community rehabilitation order, to not commit any more offences and to stay in touch with the community drugs team.

Thomas, of East Croft, Nelson, had earlier admitted driving while disqualified and not having the relevant insurance. He had 29 previous convictions.

Dylan Bradshaw, defending, said that Thomas did not deliberately get into the car and drive knowing he was banned.

He was under the impression that the disqualification had expired.

Mr Bradshaw told the court his client had been very concerned his daughter may have been suffering meningitis.

It had turned out to be just a throat infection, but he and his partner had panicked and got in the car to take his daughter to hospital.

The defendant had a long-standing drug problem.

Mr Bradshaw told the court Thomas was a doting father who was very concerned for his daughter's welfare and had had the threat of prison hanging over him.