A TEENAGE thief who crashed a stolen lorry at an accident blackspot was caught out - after leaving his trainer behind at the scene.

Police traced Ashley Gilheaney through DNA taken from the footwear and now he has been jailed for 120 days.

Gilheaney, 18, of Royds Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to unauthorised taking of a Seddon Atkinson lorry aggravated by damage caused, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

As well as the prison sentence, he was banned from driving for two years.

John Wood, prosecuting, said tarmac contractor Peter Bullock was working in Chatburn Road, Sawley, at 1.30 pm on December 13 when he saw his lorry being driven off towing the trailer loaded with a mechanical digger.

He got into another vehicle and followed at the same time contacting the police who joined the pursuit near to McDonalds on the A 59.

The lorry headed towards Accrington before branching left at Portfield Bar. As he tried to negotiate the notorious Devil's Elbow, Gilheaney, who was 17 at the time, misjudged the bend and the lorry and trailer toppled over.

"By the time the police arrived there was nobody in the lorry but left behind was a Reebok trainer," said Mr Wood. "Forensic examination revealed the defendant's DNA."

He said Mr Bullock estimated the lorry to be worth £5,000 and the digger £7,000 and there had been some insurance settlement.

He said Gilheaney had previous convictions for aggravated taking of a vehicle and had been caught driving while disqualified on December 7, just six days before the offence before the court. He was not convicted of that offence until January when he was made subject to community supervision.

Graham Parkinson, defending, said his client worked on an occasional basis for a friend who was in the scrap metal business.

Imposing an immediate custodial sentence the chairman said Gilheaney had an "atrocious" record with many offences committed in a short period of time while subject to community orders.

"We feel you have failed to respond to the previous orders of the court and the public must be protected from the risk posed by your actions," he added.