A PROVISIONAL licence-holder who took his friend’s dad’s high-powered BMW told police he wanted to play a 'real-life' version of video game Grand Theft Auto.

Blackburn magistrates heard Casey Weir had drunk four pints of Guinness and half a bottle of whisky before his ill-fated joyride which ended in a crash.

Casey Weir, 21, of Thirlmere Way, Crawshawbooth, pleaded guilty to unauthorised vehicle taking aggravated by damage caused, driving with excess alcohol, without insurance and without alicence.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 200 hours' unpaid work, banned from driving for 23 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said Weir was out with a friend, Jack McLoughlin, who was driving his dad’s black BMW 3 Series.

They had been to the pub where Weir drank three or four pints of Guinness before going back to a house where he drank whisky.

“He told Mr McLoughlin he had left his mobile in the car and asked for the keys,” said Mrs White.

“He gave him the keys and said to make sure he locked the car when he had finished. He told police he wanted to play real Grand Theft Auto.”

GTA is an action-adventure video game series all consisting of driving and third-person shooting.

When Weir hadn’t returned after a few minutes Mr McLoughlin checked and discovered his father’s car had gone.

“He gave his friend a few minutes to think the better of what he was doing but when he didn’t return reported the matter to the police,” said Mrs White.

Later in the night officers in Market Street, Whitworth, saw the car and followed it onto Tonacliffe Street.

They lost sight of it but then saw smoke in the distance.

They found the car in the middle of the road with front end damage.

Keith Rennison, defending, said thankfully nobody had been injured as a result of his client’s stupid actions.

“He is a hard-working young man who has not been in trouble before and this is very much out of character,” said Mr Rennison.

“He has learned a great deal from this incident and the likelihood is he will not reoffend.”