A FATHER-OF-THREE believed to be Burnley's most prolific banned driver has been jailed for nine months.

The town's Crown Court heard how Mark Butterworth, 25, had more than 130 previous convictions, of which 35 were for driving while disqualified.

The court heard he would never be able to get a driving licence as he would not be able to get anybody to insure him.

Butterworth, who has a new baby in hospital with a kidney disorder, had earlier been given a combination order for driving while banned but had flouted it.

He had also been to prison for getting behind the wheel while disqualified in the meantime.

Sentencing, Judge Stuart Baker told the defendant he had never come across anybody who had such a record of banned driving offences.

He went on: "You have committed these offences time and time again. In a way it shows you simply don't care."

The judge said the defendant had disregarded efforts to sentence him in the community. He added the situation over Butterworth's youngest child was sad but the court could not be deflected from passing sentence merely because a defendant was going though a worrying time.

Butterworth, of Cog Lane, Burnley, had earlier admitted breaching a 100-hour community punishment and two year community rehabilitation order, to include the Think First programme.

The order had been imposed after the defendant was convicted of driving while disqualified, not having insurance, and escape. The order was made last August and in the meantime Butterworth had been to custody for four months for driving while disqualified.

He had completed just over six of the 100 hours community punishment imposed.

Ken Hind, prosecuting for the probation service, said the escape offence was committed when the defendant was recognised behind the wheel by police. The vehicle was abandoned and Butterworth was arrested after coming out of a nearby garden.

He was handcuffed but slipped the cuffs after being allowed to finish a cigarette.

Richard Taylor, defending, said Butterworth accepted while he had seized the opportunity of a combination order he had not co-operated. Butterworth was expecting and anticipating to go to prison.