A MAN dubbed "Del Boy" by his mates astonished court officials yesterday by giving his address as an old and battered three-wheeler van.

Magistrates, who accepted 30-year-old Neil Savage's unusual explanation, granted him bail on condition that he cannot leave his clapped-out home between 9pm and 7am.

Chairman of the bench Angela Morris seemed intrigued that anyone could live in such a tiny space and even inquired if he paid council tax.

Savage then went on to tell them of his home comforts - which include fitted blue carpet, mattress, a black and white TV and gas stove - much to the hilarity of everyone in court.

His bizarre living arrangements emerged when Savage told Houghton-le-Spring Magistrates Court, near Sunderland, that he was officially homeless.

He is accused of stealing from a car, breaching a community order, having an offensive weapon and possessing drugs.

Police have tried three times to get Savage remanded in custody on the basis that he was homeless.

But after detailed discussion magistrates agreed with him that his battered yellow 1976 three-wheeler could be classed as a home.

Savage left the home he shared in Oxclose, Washington, after separating from girlfriend Suzanne Worley, 23, and son James, now six, in 1996.

After a couple of years living with a friend, he converted his 1100cc van into a home from home. Using timber and aluminium he built a 7ft by 4ft cabin on the back and installed modern comforts.

Parked near his brother's home in Columbia, Washington, he runs an electric cable to the house and pays £5 a week to watch his TV.

He also boasts a chemical toilet and portable gas stove, and even has a pint of milk delivered to his car door each morning.

After leaving court, Savage said: "It's no palace but it is more of a home than I have had for a while.

"It took me a while to convince the court that I lived there and I find it a bit hard having to stay there from nine at night until seven in the morning but if it means staying out of prison I am quite happy. The police make sure I am in there. They give me a knock nearly every night.

"Everyone around the doors calls me Del Boy because I am a bit of a wheeler-dealer like him and, of course, I have the van to match. Everyone must think I am mad living in there."

At court yesterday Savage admitted possessing cannabis and a morphine-based drug and stealing from a motor vehicle, but denies carrying an offensive weapon and breaching a community rehabilitation order.

On hearing his plight, magistrates reduced his outstanding £625 fine to just £80, giving him a seven-day prison term which they suspended on the basis that he pays the outstanding amount at £5 a week out of his £55 a week benefits. His case was adjourned until May 10.