A JUDGE has taken the unusual step of halting a case to check the validity of a job offer designed to save a criminal from prison.

Judge Michael Taylor gave Stephen Bendall a week to provide a sworn statement to prove the offer of employment was genuine.

But he warned the 21-year-old and his barrister that if it was found to be untrue, he would be prosecuted for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Bendall appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday on two other charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice, two of driving while disqualified and two of using a vehicle without insurance.

The court heard how Bendall had twice given the name of another man when he was stopped by police in a K-reg Ford Fiesta in east Cleveland on March 31 and April 5.

The innocent man was then shocked to receive a summons to appear at court for failing to provide his driving documents. He contacted police and the lies were uncovered when an officer saw Bendall in Redcar and recognised him.

Judge Taylor told Bendall's barrister, Jim Withyman, that he was considering custody because he had repeated the attempted deception a week after he first tried it and left an innocent man fearing a court appearance.

Mr Withyman provided the court with a letter from a family friend and one which apparently said Bendall was being offered a £380-a-week job as a hostel porter, in London.

But Judge Taylor told Mr Withyman: "I am going to send the case down until next Friday and you can instruct those who instruct you that what I want is a sworn witness statement by the potential employer and the terms of employment."

Bendall, of Hoylake Close, New Marske, east Cleveland, admitted all the charges and will return to court on Friday.