A DOCTOR at Royal Blackburn Hospital discovered his car keys had been stolen from the staff area and his car taken from the car park while he was working a night shift.

Blackburn magistrates heard the car was recovered from a town centre car park and the doctor had to pay £150 to get it back.

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David Gerald Harward, 44, of the Salvation Army Hostel, Heaton Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of a vehicle key, taking a car without consent and driving without insurance and other than in accordance with a licence.

He also pleaded guilty to burglary at the staff room on Blackburn market with intent to steal. Harward was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, made subject to community supervision for 12 months with a drug treatment requirement and banned from driving for six months.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Dr Samuel Smith had left his car on the staff car park. The following morning he went to the changing room and discovered his car keys were missing and then found his car had gone.

CCTV showed Harward entering the staff changing rooms before going onto the car park. Harward told police after taking the keys he had walked round the car park clicking the key fob until some lights flashed.

"Dr Smith had to pay £150 to recover his car," said Mrs Yates.

Graham Tindall, defending, said his client, who had been released from prison in September, couldn't argue if he was sent straight to prison.

"The only problem would be he would be released with the same problems he came out with in September," said Mr Tindall.