A 22-year-old Addingham man stole a cattle trailer while searching about for something to steal, Skipton magistrates heard.

Ashley Driver was desperate for money and had gone out in his Ford Transit van on September 23 with the intention of stealing something, the court heard today.

He saw a cattle trailer on a farm in Winterburn, North Yorkshire, and had attached it to his van and was in the process of driving off with it when he was seen by someone who reported it to the police.

When he was stopped, the trailer had the rightful owner's details on it and Driver admitted what he had done, the court was told.

He was also in breach of a 12 month community order for burglary imposed in July and including 100 hours unpaid work.

Driver, of Turner Lane, admitted theft, and also that he had not attended unpaid work because his van had broken down.

The court heard he had previously run his own successful business, but over the past few months had relapsed into drug use. He was now working hard to come off drugs and was working long hours for his father to pay off his considerable debts.

Magistrates revoked Driver's original community order and replaced it with a new 12 month order with supervision and six month drug rehabilitation. He will also have to pay £190 compensation to the owner of the trailer - who had to pay the police to get it back. He was also fined £150 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and £60 victims surcharge.