A YOUNG dad who got behind the wheel while subject to three driving bans has kept his freedom.

Burnley Magistrates told David John Grimes, 24, whose solicitor says jail is part and parcel of everyday life in the background the defendant comes from, that he could have ended up there too.

Grimes, of Holbeck Street, Burnley, admitted driving while disqualified and using an uninsured vehicle, on April 11.

He was given a six months community rehabilitation order and told to pay £55 costs.

The court was told when Grimes was spotted driving by police, he said he was just parking the vehicle up and asked: "Can you not let me go ?"

He could not give a reason why he had carried on driving when he had been ordered off the road.

Joanne Close, prosecuting, told the court the defendant had been made subject to three bans and was disqualified until February 2006.

He was a persistent offender and had 43 previous convictions - of which six were for driving while disqualified. Earlier this year he had been given a community rehabilitation order for 12 months for banned driving and committed the latest offence during the order.

Nick Dearing, defending, said Grimes came from a troubled background.

He did not steal cars, had not driven dangerously and had not tried to make off.