AN Oswaldtwistle teenager was arrested as a result of fingerprint evidence nearly six months after he ditched a stolen car.

Blackburn magistrates heard that the former banger racer with a fascination for cars planned to return to Belfast as soon as he had been dealt with on all his outstanding prosecutions.

Brian Rolfe, 18, of Trinity Street, pleaded guilty to taking a Ford Escort without consent and driving it without insurance and a licence. He was fined a total of £250 which the magistrates said would be lodged against the time he is currently spending on remand in Lancaster Farms Young Offenders Institute.

David Macro, prosecuting, said a Mr King had parked his car on a car park in Moscow Mill Street at 8.30am on March 9. When he returned at 4am the car had gone. It was later found abandoned in a ditch at the back of the Lidgett pub in Great Harwood.

Rolfe was identified as a result of finger print evidence and arrested from Lancaster Farms. He told police he had been walking to his grandma's house in Church when he took the vehicle. He had driven to Great Harwood where he drove into a field when he saw a police car.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said Rolfe had a fascination with motor vehicles which had developed in Belfast where he worked at his uncle's scrap yard. When Rolfe came to East Lancashire he got involved with the wrong crowd and now realised that he needed to make a fresh start.

"To his credit, while living in Accrington, he has obtained an NVQ in motor mechanics and he plans to return to Belfast and involve himself legitimately in motor vehicles," added Mr Church-Taylor.