BARRY John Lettherd bought a car at the 'unofficial' Blackburn car auction, even though he suspected it might be stolen.

Blackburn magistrates heard that he had sold the vehicle on before it was eventually stopped by police and returned to its rightful owner.

Lettherd, 24, of Honeyhole, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Peugeot belonging to Christine Fielding and worth £1,500.

He was remanded on bail until October 29 after the magistrates ordered the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said the car had been taken from outside the home of Christine Fielding, when the keys were stolen during a burglary in her home.

Daniel King, defending, said Lettherd had gone to the car auction looking to buy a car.

"There is an official auction and outside there are people who sell cars without putting them through the auction" said Mr King.

"He agreed a price for the Peugeot with one of these people. He was suspicious because there were no documents and he later decided to sell the vehicle on."

Mr King said that when he sold the vehicle, Lettherd signed the receipt in his own name, making it easy for the police to trace him when they stopped the vehicle.

"He did not know the vehicle was stolen but he turned a blind eye," said Mr King.

"It had actually been stolen from somewhere near Southport about a month earlier."

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