A Blackburn man involved in the theft of high value cars from garages in Lancashire has been jailed for 12 months.

Mark Eggar, 31, took the cars on test drives, and had the keys copied so they could later be stolen and ringed by others.

Preston Crown Court heard that Eggar was in debt and agreed to do it for £500 a car.

They were stolen by others, had their identities changed, and then sold to unsuspecting purchasers.

Eggar of Abraham Street, Blackburn, appeared for sentence for six charges of theft.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said the offences took place between April 19 and July 17 last year.

They involved four BWMs, an Audi TT Quattro, and a Land Rover Freelander, taken from garages in Burnley, Blackburn, Darwen and Clitheroe.

They were valued at in excess of £72,000, of which £47,000 was outstanding.

Ken Hind, defending, said Eggar was a heavy plant driver, but the proprietor of a company he did work for had been killed and when the firm closed down he was owed money.

He also used cocaine and accepted money to get hold of the car keys so the vehicles could be taken.

But he had nothing to do with the disposal of the cars.

Judge Christopher Cornwall told Eggar: "Crime of this sort is prevalent. There needs to be a sentence that has a deterrent effect," the judge added.