Last updated 19:28, Thursday, 27 November 2008

A 21-YEAR-OLD Workington man who hopes to play football for Workington Reds first team has been told that he could face a custodial sentence.

Shaun Stephen Pilling, of Eskdale Crescent, Moorclose, pleaded guilty before West Allerdale magistrates to possession of Class C controlled drugs, theft of a mobile phone and MP3 player, driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance and dangerous driving.

Pilling, who plays football for Workington’s second team, was told by magistrates that they were not ruling out custody.

The court heard how police had found three diazepam tablets in Pilling’s sock in February, which he said were given to him by a friend as he was suffering from tooth-ache.

Later in February, Pilling stole a mobile phone and MP3 player from a jacket hung up in a library.

He was caught on CCTV and later used the mobile phone to telephone his aunt.

In April, Pilling, a disqualified driver, was chased by police through Distington on a quad bike which was uninsured.

Police said he mounted the pavement, making three young women move out of his way.

Pilling said he thought his previous ban had ended. The bike belonged to a friend, and because he did not want it to be seized by police for being uninsured he rode away .

Magistrates asked for a pre-sentence report before, and Pilling will return on December 11 for sentencing.