AN offender who didn't do his community punishment because he had backache, is behind bars for two weeks.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Emran Sajawal, 21, had done 36 of the 70 hours imposed by a judge and the same judge told him he had said there would be serious consequences if he didn't do it.

Judge Raymond Bennett said although the defendant had sent in some medical certificates, it had been his duty to go and discuss the situation with a community service officer when he had not supplied them

Sajawal, of Kempton Rise, Blackburn, admitting breaching the community punishment order, imposed at the court in October last year. He had been sentenced to 70 hours after being convicted of dangerous driving and taking a conveyance without consent.

The court was told a probation officer felt the defendant's failure to complete the order could be due to ill health, but also to residual feelings about being found guilty of an offence he still denied.

John Woodward, defending, said Sajawal was in a road accident last November and had been suffering from back pain. He had every intention of completing the order.