A MAN who stole a taxi in the early hours then stopped and tried to make off, has kept his freedom.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Daniel Andrew Morgan, 26, who has not passed his test and was on a community order at the time, then refused to give a breath test.

Morgan, of Clough Road, Bacup, admitted taking a vehicle without consent, failing to provide a specimen for analysis, no insurance on July 28 and breaching a community order.

He was given 120 days in jail, suspended for 12 months, with a three-month curfew, between 8pm and 6am, Mondays to Fridays.

Ben Leech, defending, said the offences were on the spur of the moment and Morgan had no clear recollection of what happened.

He realised when he was behind the wheel of the taxi what he was doing was stupid and he pulled over and got out.