A MAN who took a van for a test drive, didn't take it back and was later spotted by the owner painting it a different colour, Burnley magistrates heard.

The van was, in the meantime, involved in an accident after the owner, who had been searching for his vehicle, had removed a distributor lead to stop Kenneth Waterworth, 34, from driving it again.

Waterworth, of Wordsworth Avenue, Padiham, was fined £80, disqualified from driving for six months under the totting-up procedure, fined £25 and must pay £25 costs.

He had been convicted of taking a motor vehicle without consent and admitted having no driving licence, no insurance and failing to surrender. The court heard Waterworth was given the van keys and drove off, after telling the owner he would like to test drive it. He said he would be back shortly with £50, but didn't return. The following day, the complainant went making inquiries and to look for the van and called at the defendant's home but got no answer. He later found the van two streets away and removed a distributor lead, but it again disappeared. The owner was later contacted by the police to say the vehicle had been in an accident and officers thought he had been involved.

The man went on to find Waterworth and another man painting the van a different colour. He asked for the keys, but the defendant said he was going to give him money when he got paid.

Nick Dearing, defending, said the offence was the sort of unlawful taking where permission was exceeded. Waterworth always maintained the owner believed he would be paying him in seven days when he got his Giro.

Waterworth did not accept being involved in a bump in the van. He did not have a driving licence, but had hoped to use the vehicle to work with his father in the building trade. The defendant did have previous convictions, but very little for motoring.