THE address of a defendant was not given in court at Burnley because of other proceedings in Northern Ireland.

Trevor George Murphy, 31, had previously pleaded guilty to the theft of a bottle of whisky at the Asda store in Rochdale and driving a car while disqualified in Clay Street, Burnley.

He also admitted driving without insurance and two offences of failing to surrender to bail.

The cases had been adjourned for pre-sentence reports.

Lesley Williams, prosecuting, told Burnley magistrates that Murphy claimed he stole the whisky to sell to get the fare back to Burnley from Rochdale and that he drove his friend's car home after his friend was arrested in Rawtenstall.

Graham Tindall, defending, said Murphy's address was not being disclosed for valid reasons with regard to other prosecutions concerning very serious matters when Murphy was living in Northern Ireland.

Since living in England he had been involved in only minor brushes with the law.

Murphy was granted a conditional discharge for 12 months for each offence with eight penalty points on his licence.

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