Youth gave police wrong licence

Burnley Crown Court heard how Jason Goulding, 19, had taken the wheel of his girlfriend's car after she had been drinking but didn't have a licence when police stopped him. He later took his brother's licence to the police station and his brother almost ended up in court.

Goulding, whose barrister told the court he had not thought he was doing any wrong and was absolutely terrified by the proceedings, was given 150 hours community service.

Sentencing him, Judge David Pirie said he had been in "dire danger " of going to detention, but he was satisfied his behaviour was unsophisticated and there was little risk of it being repeated.

Goulding, of Windermere Road, Padiham, was also fined £230 and banned from driving for 12 months. He admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and no insurance.

Howard Bradshaw, prosecuting, said Goulding was stopped by officers around midnight and asked to produce his driving documents at the police station.

The defendant gave his name as Lee Goulding, his brother, the address they both lived at and his brother's date of birth.

Later, Goulding went to the police station and produced his brother's driving licence, after which his brother was summonsed to court. The defendant and his brother later went into the police station and told officers what had happened.

Philip Holden, defending, said Goulding panicked when stopped and gave his brother's details. He was a naive and inexperienced young man and genuinely didn't think anything would come of it.

He had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and was absolutely terrified by the court proceedings.

Mr Holden went on: "The defendant poses very little risk of reoffending. Perhaps a very long community service order would be appropriate in all the circumstances. He has a great deal of time on his hands to perform community service."