A man overstepped the mark after being given permission to drive his mate’s car.

Blackburn magistrates heard Steven Purkhardt panicked after crashing the car, a Ford Focus, and didn’t return it until much later in the day.

Purkhardt, 39, of Queen Street, Oswaldtwistle, admitted to unauthorised vehicle taking aggravated by damage caused. He was bailed for a pre-sentence report.

Jackie Partington, prosecuting, said the car owner had given Purkhardt a lift to work and then gave him permission to use the car to collect some materials they needed for the job.

“The defendant pleads guilty on the basis that he exceeded the authorised use of that vehicle,” said Miss Partington.

The court heard Purkhardt had initially also been charged with drink driving and assault but they were dismissed when the prosecution offered no evidence.

Samuel Hinds, mitigating, said his client had initially pleaded not guilty to all three matters but on the day of trial pleaded guilty to the aggravated vehicle taking.

“On the day in question they had travelled to work together and, as was quite usual, he was asked to take the car and collect some equipment,” said Mr Hinds.

“During that he bumped into the back of another vehicle and he panicked. He decided he couldn’t face the car owner.”

Mr Hinds said his client drove the car close to where the owner lived  and had been drinking in the car. When he owned up there was an argument.