A 25-YEAR-OLD man got into a car which had been left running whilst it defrosted and drove off.

Blackburn magistrates heard Robert Neal had an immediate change of mind and ended up on a grass verge across the road.

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The husband of the car owner dragged him from the vehicle and detained him until police arrived.

Neal, of Cocker Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to taking a car without consent, driving without a licence and without insurance.

He was ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work and pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Kerry Gieve, prosecuting, said Amanda McFarland had started her car at about 6am and then went back into the house to collect something when she heard the car braking sharply.

She ran outside and saw her car on the grass verge across the road.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client had difficulty sleeping and had got up early to go for a walk.

Mr Taylor said: "He saw the car with the door open and the engine running and he couldn't resist the temptation.

"He got in and immediately realised what he was doing was wrong."