A TEENAGER jumped into a stolen car and drove off when he came across the vehicle after he had been out for a drink.

Burnley magistrates heard how Lee Anthony Durkin, 18, was over the limit after he was stopped by police.

Durkin, of Elmwood Street, Burnley, had earlier admitted driving with excess alcohol, using an uninsured vehicle and taking a motor vehicle without consent.

He was given 100 hours community punishment and banned from driving for 12 months, after the bench told him it was within a year of committing a similar offence, but he had shown remorse.

The lower of two tests showed 44 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath -- the legal limit is 35.

John Nuttall, defending, said the offences were committed on the spur of the moment when Durkin was walking home after having some drink.

He "foolishly," jumped into the stolen car and drove off.

The defendant was only slightly over the limit.

He had a previous record and in the past when given probation he had avoided offending.

Durkin acknowledged his impulsive behaviour led to his committing crime and very often realising that was the first step to stopping offending.

Mr Nuttall added it was obvious if Durkin continued to come before the courts, the magistrates would consider sentences other than community penalties and he knew that.