A DRINK driving ex-soldier who gave another man's name in a bid to escape a lengthy ban when stopped by police, has paid the price with his freedom.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Vincent Tenn, 25, wanted to go back in the Army and his barrister had urged the court not to impose a jail term as it may affect his chances of signing up again.

The court was told how the defendant had a previous conviction for excess alcohol and would have been banned for three years after he was stopped last July.

He has now been sent to jail for four months, and was still given the three-year disqualification as well.

Sentencing Tenn, Recorder Philip Curran told him he had persisted in giving the other man's name at the police station.

The man was put at risk because the defendant didn't answer to his bail.

It was only later when he was arrested again for drink driving that police were able to compare the two sets of fingerprints taken two months apart and Tenn was identified.

The judge said he accepted the defendant panicked because he knew he would face a long ban but he had kept up the pretence over a long period.

He added he knew a custodial term might affect Tenn's chances of going back in the Army, but people who did what he had done had to go to prison.

Tenn, of Berry Street, Burnley, had pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice and driving with excess alcohol, last July.

Robert Crawford, defending, said Tenn who was now working at Asda as a porter but wanted to go back in the Army.