A 22-YEAR-OLD man took part in a pre-meditated "contract" theft of a £26,000 JCB after being approached by two gipsies in a Church pub.

Blackburn magistrates heard the men picked Gary Adam Hunneybell up at 3.30am and took him to Osbaldeston where he was handed the keys of the digger and told to drive it to another location.

But a police patrol saw the vehicle being driven in Longsight Road at 4.50 in the morning and were suspicious.

Hunneybell, of St James Close, Church, pleaded guilty to theft of the JCB, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

He was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court for sentence.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said when he was stopped Hunneybell gave a false name and then ran off.

The police called in a dog team but while they were waiting saw Hunneybell hiding in some long grass and arrested him.

He told police a man called Boris had promised him £250 if he delivered the JCB to Accrington.

Sian Hall, defending, said it was not accepted the theft had been pre-planned.