A MAN who went on the run because he feared he would be jailed was recaptured after a motorist was threatened with a knife and struck with a wooden fence post.

Lee Suddick was named as public enemy number one in the fight against car crime in Blackburn when police launched a recent initiative. And he was jailed for a total of 253 days by Blackburn magistrates after being caught red handed breaking into a car on a Lake District car park while on the run.

Suddick, 19, formerly of Fawcett Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to shoplifting at Heald's Day and Nite store on Newbank Road and theft from a motor vehicle, which was remitted from Kendal magistrates.

He was sentenced to 56 days for the shoplifting offence, 112 days for the theft from a motor vehicle and ordered to serve 85 days unexpired on a previous prison sentence.

Claire Fanning, prosecuting, said Mr Martin Woodham and his wife had been walking in the Lake District and as they returned to the car park at Cow Bridge, Hartsop, heard their car alarm.

Suddick was leaning into the car through the broken driver's window and Mr Woodham leapt over a barbed wire fence, grabbed Suddick and told him he was under arrest.

Miss Fanning said Suddick appeared shocked and did not struggle but Mr Woodham was then approached by a girl wielding a knife who threatened him and told him to let Suddick go.

"He did so immediately and held his hands up but then another man swung a wooden post at him catching him on the arm," said Miss Fanning. "Suddick and the other two drove off and Mr Woodham and his wife got in their car and drove to a phone box to raise the alarm."

The offence had been committed while Suddick was wanted on a warrant issued by Blackburn magistrates in September. Suddick had attended court and pleaded guilty to shoplifting but when the magistrates indicated they wished to transfer to court one, which has access to the cells, to pass sentence Suddick left the court.

Stephen Parker, defending, said: "He only ran away after someone else had threatened this man with a knife."