STEVEN Holt ran away from Blackburn magistrates court after justices adjourned to consider sentence on charges of deception and shoplifting.

And the bench issued a warrant for his arrest although their original decision had been to remand him on bail for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Holt, 32, of Dickinson Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to obtaining £153 by deception from Redlam Post Office and stealing a bottle of whisky from Asda.

Wendy Chappell, prosecuting, said the money had been obtained by withdrawing cash from an account in the name of his disabled sister, Lynn Holt.

Their mother, Ada Holt, had gone to the Post Office and was told that someone had been in and tried to take money from the account, but they had been refused. When she went home Mrs Holt found the book missing but it was later put back in her handbag and she noticed that a withdrawal had been made.

When interviewed Holt said he had needed the money to pay off a debt. He was released on bail and the next day was caught trying to steal a bottle of whisky from Asda.

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said Holt had originally borrowed £20 off someone he thought was a friend, but when he could not pay it back on the due date he was told it was £40 and a few days later another £10 was added.

"He was told he needed to pay and quickly and he was left in no doubt that these were serious overtones and not to be taken lightly," said Mr Blacklidge.

He said that having used £50 to pay his debt Holt had returned the book and £100 to his mother's handbag and had admitted what he had done when challenged by his elder brother.