A MAN who got up at 4am to go to work looked out of his kitchen window and saw someone interfering with a nearby car.

Blackburn magistrates heard when the witness went outside he realised the petrol tank cap was missing from his own vehicle.

Gary Steven McKay, 32, of Shuttleworth Street, Earby, pleaded guilty to two charges of vehicle interference. He was fined £120 with £85 costs and £34 victim surcharge.

The chairman of the magistrates said while the offences had been described as low level that would not be the opinion of the people trying to get to work the next day who discovered they had no fuel.

Drew Barrow, prosecuting, said the witness approached McKay and accused him of stealing diesel. It was icy and McKay slipped and hurt himself. He was detained until the police arrived.

Michael Alexander, defending, said his client was trying to syphon diesel so he could start a fire in the nearby woods because he was cold having been thrown out by his father.