A WOMAN knew a man who "dossed" at her house was an escaped prisoner, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that escapee Timothy Hartley was found sleeping at the Blackburn home of Julia Claudia Lord, 20, when officers got in through a window at 5am.

But Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said she had played no part in him not returning to custody after a period of home leave.

"When she first met him she didn't know he was on the run," said Mr Church-Taylor.

Lord, of Ballantrae Road, pleaded guilty to harbouring an escaped prisoner.

She was made subject to community supervision for 18 months and a weekend 6pm to 6am curfew for three months.

Neil White, prosecuting, said Hartley had been given temporary leave on May 22 but failed to return to Thorncross Young Offender institute.

He was on the run until police eventually found him at Lord's address on July 26.

Mr Church-Taylor said Lord had only met Hartley through mutual friends.