Driver spared jail

Leigh Jarvis, 20, was told by a judge he was a "Jekyll and Hyde" character and alcohol was his problem.

Jarvis, who admitted to police he had been drinking before he took the vehicle --although he was never charged with driving with excess alcohol -- was given a 12 months community order with supervision to include the Think First programme.

He was also banned from driving for a year.

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt told the defendant she thought the way to keep him out of trouble in the future was to get him help.

She added his greatest problem was looking his sister in the eye and went on: "I'm not just punishing you. I need to stop you committing crime. That protects the public."

Jarvis, of Whitehall Street, Nelson, admitted aggravated vehicle taking and disqualified driving and had been committed to Burnley Crown Court for sentence by the town's magistrates.

A court had earlier been told the defendant was staying with his sister when he took the key and drove off with her company car.

The next day she found both her vehicle and her brother missing.

The Golf was later found abandoned and burned out.

The defendant, who later handed the key fob over to police, said he had had an accident and the engine had started to smoke. He claimed he had not set fire to the car.

Roger Baldwin, defending, said Jarvis had now severely limited his drinking.

He was working full time as a packer, was not going out with friends and was also doing community service.

Since the offences, Jarvis had pointed his sister's house, decorated it and done all sorts of work in an attempt to try and make up for the events of that evening.

Jarvis was hard-working and was a grafter on community service, Mr Baldwin told the court.

He added he the skills and because of his contracts could get the equipment needed.

His supervisors would be sorry to see him go.

Mr Baldwin continued: "He enjoys the work and is certainly prepared to carry out more work if the court thinks that would be appropriate."