A MAN arrested after a high speed police chase later admitted he had been paid £200 to steal the car from outside the owner’s Burnley home.

Blackburn magistrates heard Mohammed Jamal was handed a key, a description of the car and the postcode of the owner before being driven to Burnley from his Oldham home.

And he admitted after stealing to order that he panicked when he saw the police because he did not want to be sent back to prison.

Jamal, 28, of Hereford Street, pleaded guilty to theft of a BMW belonging to Irfat Hussain and dangerous driving.

He was sent to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced and was remanded in custody until July 5.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Miss Hussain was at home praying in the early hours of Monday when she heard a car being started. “She looked out to see her vehicle being driven away,” said Miss Yates.

“She reported it to the police and at 5.20 am an officer on the A56 Accrington by-pass saw the car. He followed for some distance towards Haslingden before activating his lights and requesting the driver to stop.

“The car then went through a red light at 50mph and travelled through Haslingden at 70mph before going around the Tesco roundabout the wrong way,” said Miss Yates.

As the car was driven towards Rawtenstall it reached 80mph and went through the town centre on the wrong side of the carriageway and shooting red lights.

It continued at 80mph into Crawshawbooth before hitting the kerb and ending up in a hedge.

“The driver made off on foot but was arrested after a short chase,” said Mrs Yates.

Jamal told police he had been given £200 to steal the car by a man, who he would not name, who also provided the key.

Mohammed Riaz, defending, said it had been sheer panic on his client’s part because he was frightened he would be recalled to prison.