Drug addict Allen Duffy got his wish yesterday when a judge jailed him for three years.

The 26-year-old crack cocaine user - who had admitted various offences including theft, burglary and dangerous driving - wanted a long sentence so he could be sent on a drug-user's course at a prison in Devon.

His barrister, Jayne Chaplain, told Bradford Crown Court: "Effectively he is saying that if he is given probation it will not be enough and he will simply return to the streets of Keighley and his crack habit.

"He does not feel he is ready to be returned to the community at this stage."

Judge Roderick Adams told Duffy: "The unusual feature of this sentencing exercise is that I have been told you actually want a custodial sentence and of sufficient length to allow you to undertake a course of treatment in a prison environment which is going to last 12 months."

He added that it was "refreshing" to read a pre-sentence report which contained such an attitude. but he stressed that he was not imposing a longer than normal sentence because of that.

The court heard how Duffy, of Staveley Road, Ingrow, even stole £600 worth of jewellery from his grandmother and later sold it for just £80.

Miss Chaplain said he was particularly ashamed of that matter and was full of remorse.

In another incident a police officer tried to speak to Duffy after seeing him in a Metro car in the Church Street area of Keighley.

After the officer got in the passenger seat Duffy drove off and crashed through two fences near a petrol station before colliding with a wall.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.