A FAVOUR landed a disqualified would-be car salesman in hot water after he was stopped by police.

Burnley magistrates heard Mohamed Ali, 23, told officers he had passed a test in March.

He had been disqualified in November 2001 after being convicted of dangerous driving and was a learner again until he passed an extended driving test.

Ali, of Leeds Road, admitted driving while disqualified, using an uninsured vehicle and no test certificate on June 5.

He was given 100 hours community punishment and told to pay £60 costs. The bench told him he had got behind the wheel, even though he had known he was banned.

Graeme Parkinson, defending, said Ali had twice tried to pass the theory part of his driving test and got the vehicle prematurely. He should not have got it as it presented a temptation. The defendant had been doing a friend a favour.