A JUDGE who cut a persistent car thief's jail term has slammed the maximum sentences allowed by law as not tough enough.

Shaun Andrews, 19, had earlier been sent to detention for six months by magistrates for two offences of unauthorised taking of vehicles and driving while disqualified.

He had also asked for three offences of unauthorised vehicle taking to be considered.

Judge Raymond Bennett, sitting with two justices on an appeal hearing at Burnley Crown Court, reduced the custodial term to give Andrews "discount," for owning up to what he had done.

He told him that a maximum six months behind bars was the starting point for the offences and the magistrates had been limited to that because they had been dealing with the offences on the same occasion.

The judge went on: "I think the penalty for persistent offenders for unauthorised taking of vehicles and driving while disqualified is far too short but six months is the maximum the magistrates could impose."

Judge Bennett continued:" It is extremely annoying.

"I think the law is inadequate in this respect but we have to apply the law."

The judge said Andrews had pleaded guilty in the lower court but appealed because he had been given the maximum sentence.

Andrews, of Pine Street, Burnley, had his six months sentence cut to four months and two weeks.