ANDREW Rawes was forgiven by his brother after taking his van and crashing it when he was drunk, a court was told.

But Blackburn magistrates were less understanding and sent Rawes to prison for a total of six months.

Rawes, 26, of Royds Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to two charges of aggravated taking of motor vehicles and driving with excess alcohol. As well as the prison sentence he was disqualified from driving for three years.

The court heard that on the first occasion Rawes had taken a Vauxhall Cavalier without consent and crashed it into railings at the junction of Wood Street and Vale Street in Darwen. He was breathalysed and gave a reading of 89 against the legal limit of 35.

Less than two weeks later, having failed to appear in court, he took his brother's van without permission after the two of them had been out drinking.

Richard Prew, defending, said that since the offences in December, Rawes had given up drinking and had kept out of trouble.

"Blood is thicker than water and his brother obviously doesn't hold this against him because he has given my client a job as a labourer," said Mr Prew. "I feel there is some light at the end of the tunnel."