MARTIN Rolfe was so determined not to be late for a Crown Court appeal hearing he stole a car to get there.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Rolfe made the journey to Burnley Crown Court without incident but drove straight into trouble on the return trip.

He stopped for food at a takeaway and was spotted by the car owner's boyfriend, who challenged him.

Rolfe, 18, of York Street, Church, pleaded guilty to unauthorised taking and driving without insurance.

He pleaded not guilty to driving while disqualified because it was the offences leading to the ban which were the subject of the appeal proceedings.

Rolfe was remanded on bail until March 25 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Pat Bramley, prosecuting, said Rolfe's decision to take the car to get to the Crown Court had not been one of his wiser moves.

" Having attended court he felt like something to eat and stopped at a takeaway at Whitebirk.

"While he was stood by the car, eating his food, the boyfriend of the owner saw him and approached. Rolfe left but was arrested later by a police dog handler.

Richard Prew, defending, said Rolfe had been extremely foolish.

"He accepts that it was not the brightest thing to do and it would have been far easier to come into our office for a lift," said Mr Prew.

"He says the car had already been stolen when he came across it in Church and the temptation was too much for him."

Ordering pr-sentence reports, with a warning the custody would be an option to the sentencing bench, the chairman said Rolfe was digging himself a bigger and deeper hole.

"You are getting to the bottom of that hole," said the chairman.

Rolfe was convicted at Hyndburn magistrates after a trial on January 8 of assaulting a police officer by driving a car at him and unauthorised taking of a car.

The convictions for those offences are the subject of the appeal and Mr Prew said it was not clear whether the disqualification had been lifted pending the hearing.