A 23-YEAR-OLD man has escaped a jail sentence for his 12th driving while disqualified offence - even though magistrates told him they could not believe he had clocked up so many charges.

Steven Hurn, said to have been the "star witness" in a murder trial, had "been through the system," had all punishments available and was still committing crime, the Burnley bench heard.

They in turn told the defendant his record was horrendous and they hoped he would mend his ways. The chairman went on: "We found it very difficult to know what to do with you."

Hurn, of Thorn Gardens, Bacup, was told: "If you breach this order, nothing is more certain than you will be going down."

He was given a combination order of 18 months community rehabilitation and 100 hours community punishment.

He must also pay £55 costs and was banned for two years. The defendant admitted driving while disqualified and using an uninsured vehicle on November 21.

Bill Rawstron, defending, said he offended for no other reason than a vehicle had been handy.

The defendant had a compelling reason not to return to custody. In 1996 he was a witness in a murder trial for which the defendant was still serving life.

That person's associates had been looking for Hurn on the outside and more particularly on the inside since he had been on remand.

Mr Rawstron said in the past two weeks the defendant had been identified by some of the murder defendant's henchmen and he had been threatened. He took the threats very seriously as the men were not the sort of people to upset. He was worried for his safety if he was returned to jail.

The solicitor went on : "The defendant, at nearly 24, is at a watershed. He is going to go one way or the other and he has to sort it out."