A passenger in a stolen car told police he didn't know the vehicle had been taken without consent.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court was told Chris Keenan admitted knowing the driver didn't have a licence, and District Judge Alexandra Preston told him it would have been perfectly obvious the car was stolen.

Keenan, 31, of Market Street, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to allowing himself to be carried in a vehicle taken without consent.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 20 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £114 victim surcharge.

Jackie Partington, prosecuting, said the owner of the stolen Volkswagen Polo was woken by a loud noise in the early hours of the morning on January 2.

He looked out and saw his car scraping along the pavement. He heard it revving loudly before being driven away towards Shadsworth Road, Blackburn.

"The car was stopped nearby by armed response officers and the defendant handed over the keys," said Miss Partington.

Gareth Price, mitigating, said since the offence in January his client had been sent to prison three times.

"His most recent release was last week and he is subject to post sentence supervision until September next year," said Mr Price.

"He moved to Edinburgh, where his mother lives, to try and get a fresh start. He accepts he was a passenger in this car but maintains he had no knowledge of it being stolen."

The driver Johnathan Fletcher, 27, of Shadsworth House, Dunoon Drive, Blackburn, also admitted taking the vehicle without the owner's consent, driving without a licence or insurance, and driving while over the limit for drugs, namely cocaine, and awaits sentence.