A DRAMATIC bid for freedom came to a crashing end when a man sentenced to 16 weeks in prison tried to escape from the dock.

Stephen James Essex refused to let a security officer handcuff him and then jumped onto a metal ledge and grabbed the top of the secure dock at Blackburn magistrates.

He was followed by security staff and as one grabbed his legs Essex kicked out and at the same time lost his grip on the security screen. He plummeted more than eight feet down to the concrete steps which lead down to the cells.

Essex, 35, of Fernlea Drive, Clayton-le-Moors, pleaded guilty to to vehicle interference, theft of a bank card from a vehicle, fraudulent use of the card, unauthorised taking of a £17,000 Audi and, on a separate occasion, theft of a mobile phone and a bank card belonging to Simon Carter-Davis. He was jailed for 16 weeks.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the defendant claimed he had been walking through Baxenden when he came across the first car which was open and stole the card. He then found the Audi with the door open and the spare key in the glove box and decided to drive himself home. The other theft occurred at the home of a friend who had gone to make a cup of tea. When he returned Essex said he had changed his mind and was leaving. After he had left the friend realised his phone and bank card were missing.

Mark Williams, defending, said his client had driven the Audi close to where he was living and then left it.

"He assumes it was recovered from there and there was no damage caused to any of the other cars," said Mr Williams.