A MAN telephoned the parents of a 19-year-old girl in the early hours of the morning and lied that he was a hospital worker, saying she was critically ill after being involved in a car crash.

Blackburn magistrates heard the girl's parents were 300 miles away in Southampton when they received the sick call and were left frantically trying to get information about their daughter.

The court was told that earlier in the night Christopher Winard had befriended the "new girl in town" before stealing her handbag, containing her mobile phone, and getting her parents' phone number.

Winard, 35, of Daisy Meadow, Bamber Bridge, pleaded guilty to theft and sending a grossly offensive message by electronic network causing needless anxiety.

He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report with a warning that custody was the starting point for the sentencing bench.

Philip Potter, prosecuting, said Sarah Carter had recently moved to Blackburn and had gone out with work colleagues.

She was befriended by Winard and after visiting several town centre bars they went to Liquid and Envy nightclub.

"They entered together and he checked his coat, her coat and her handbag into the cloakroom and kept the ticket," said Mr Potter.

"They went into the main area of the club and he said he would go and get them a drink and that was the last she saw of him."

At 2.30am her parents received a call at their home in Southampton from a man claiming to be the family nursing liaison officer at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

He said Sarah had been hit by a car and was in a critical condition.

He said they had to go through Sarah's property to get her parents' phone number.

Sarah stayed at a friend's house after her property had been stolen and did not return home until 1.30 pm when she contacted her parents to tell them what had happened.