A MAN with a previous conviction for stealing from his employer was trusted with a company credit card when he joined a Clayton-le-Moors firm as a delivery driver.

But Blackburn magistrates heard that less than two months after starting work for Draystar Ltd, David John Pritchard left without warning -- and the next credit card statement revealed he had gone on a five-day, £747 spending spree with the company plastic.

Pritchard, 34, of Glenluce Crescent, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of a credit card, obtaining a Gameboy and game from Dixons by deception and obtaining a Nokia mobile phone from The Link. He asked for a further six offences of obtaining property by deception to be taken into consideration.

The case was adjourned until October 7 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said Pritchard had started work with the firm on January 2 and as well as his van he was given a mobile phone and a company credit card to pay for fuel. On Sunday, February 10, the owner of Draystar phoned Pritchard and gave him his jobs for the following day, but he failed to arrive at work.

His van and mobile phone were left at the depot, but Pritchard kept the company credit card.

Graeme Tindall, defending, said he anticipated that the magistrates would require pre-sentence reports before sentencing.