WHEN Seth Ryden found himself torn between two lovers and under pressure to make a decision he opted for a stay behind bars.

Blackburn magistrates heard how he stole a van, drove it into the police station yard and announced to the arresting officer that he needed a spell behind bars to think through his woman trouble.

And the magistrates obliged Ryden by sending him to prison for five months for taking a vehicle without consent and driving it while disqualified.

Ryden, 21, of no fixed address, also pleased guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin and was sentenced to two months on each charge to run concurrently with the other sentence.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, said the van had been parked on the back of a pub when Ryden broke in using a screwdriver, removed the ignition cover and started the engine. He drove the short distance to Blackburn police station, stopped outside the custody suite and waited for an officer to arrive.

"He told the officer who came out to investigate that he had stolen the car and wished to surrender to the police" said Mrs Kehoe". He later told officers that he had committed the offence because he had woman problems and needed a period of reflection and thought. He considered a period in custody to be just what he needed."

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said that years ago Ryden would probably have done the romantic thing and run away to join the Foreign Legion. He had two young ladies who were quite smitten with him but each knew of the other's involvement. "They had tolerated the situation for so long but decided that enough was enough and he had to make a choice between the two of them", said Mr Blacklidge." He realised they were right but did not want to upset either of them. Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea he could not decide which way to jump and in the end came up with this novel solution.

"It has to be said that there are not many defendants who commit an offence and then bring themselves and the evidence into the police station.

Mr Blacklidge said that Ryden's level of co-operation with the police was unbounded. After his arrest the police could not start the stolen van which was causing an obstruction in the police station yard. "They asked my client to assist and he left the custody suite, started the vehicle and moved it so police could get in and out," added Mr Blacklidge.

He added that Ryden, who expected a custodial sentence, was confident that on the day of his release he would have no difficulty finding an address and resuming his life.