A PROLIFIC offender who almost paid for his criminal career with his life has been given yet another jail term.

Joseph Farrelly Phillips, who now has more than 150 convictions, was yesterday jailed for 14 days by Burnley Magistrates.

The term must be served concurrent to a sentence imposed on the defendant on December 3 and from which Phillips is due to be released in 25 days. The defendant, 33, of Allen Haigh Court, Colne, admitted vehicle interference.

Phillips made headlines in August when a court heard how he got trapped under a car trying to steal petrol.

The defendant cut the suspension cable instead of the fuel pipe, the vehicle collapsed on him and he was rescued by a quick-thinking police officer.

The officer, who was passing at the time, spotted Phillips' arms and legs flailing underneath the car. The trapped defendant was screaming and couldn't breathe. The officer jacked the car up and released Phillips

Nigel Harrison, prosecuting yesterday told the magistrates a car was stolen from outside a house in Colne. There was no evidence the defendant took the vehicle. It was recovered the next day and Phillips' fingerprint was found in the car.

When he was arrested, the defendant said he came across the vehicle abandoned and was rummaging around.

Mark Irlam, defending, said Phillips had a great deal of previous convictions but was trying to sort himself out in prison.