BUYING a stolen Vauxhall Astra car for £20 landed Littleport man James Curtis back in jail this week. Curtis, who was only released from prison recently, was given a six-month sentence by Ely magistrates on Thursday. The 23-year-old had thought the car wa

BUYING a stolen Vauxhall Astra car for £20 landed Littleport man James Curtis back in jail this week.

Curtis, who was only released from prison recently, was given a six-month sentence by Ely magistrates on Thursday.

The 23-year-old had thought the car was a "good deal" when he bought it without any keys or documents, his solicitor James Yardy told the court.

"Because of the state of the vehicle and the sum of money he paid, he probably realised it was not a legitimate purchase," he said.

Police saw Curtis driving the G-registered car on April 19, and later found the vehicle in New Barns Avenue, Ely, said prosecutor Angela Sassoli.

Checks showed that Curtis, of The Crescent, Littleport, was a disqualified driver, who had been banned for 12 months last July. He admitted handling the stolen car between April 15 and 20, and driving it when disqualified and without insurance on April 19.

Jailing Curtis and banning him from driving for a year, presiding magistrate Harvey Harrison told him: "Your list of previous convictions is quite horrendous.