A DRUNKEN youth stole a taxi on New Year's Day and pocketed the takings from the dashboard.

Burnley magistrates heard how Terry Grimshaw, 20, had staggered to the vehicle and consumed so much alcohol, he did not know what he was doing.

Grimshaw, of West View, Haslingden, was conditionally bailed until March 2, for pre-sentence reports.

He admitted theft, taking a vehicle without consent, driving with excess alcohol, no insurance, breach of a community service order and failing to surrender.

Julie Reddish, prosecuting, told the court that in the early hours of New Year's Day, the driver parked his taxi outside a property for a few moments. When he went outside, he saw a man sitting in the driver's seat. He ran towards the vehicle and the man drove off in the taxi towards the Rising Bridge roundabout.

The matter was was reported to the police and Grimshaw was followed and stopped by officers. When he was breath tested, a specimen showed 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

Miss Reddish added Grimshaw had taken £28 in cash from the taxi and told police he had intended to go for a drive.

Rachel Hodgson, defending, said Grimshaw had been in a pub from about 6pm, on New Year's Eve, and by midnight he was very, very drunk.

He remembered standing outside, seeing a car with the engine running and staggering up to it. Grimshaw was not thinking straight and the next thing he knew he was driving the vehicle.

He pocketed the cash on the dashboard and wondered what on earth he was doing until he saw the police car pull over.

Mrs Hodgson added the defendant had not got an extensive criminal record and the offences were "silly" and committed when Grimshaw had been extremely drunk.

He was hopeful of employment in the future.

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