A 32 year old man who "misread the signs" when he absconded from court thinking he was going to be jailed was not given a second chance.

Steven Holt appeared back before Blackburn magistrates after being arrested on a warrant and was remanded in custody for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

On the previous occasion Holt, of Dickinson Close, Blackburn, had pleaded guilty to obtaining money by deception and shoplifting.

The magistrates retired to consider sentence and while they were out Holt told his solicitor he was going to the toilet but never returned.

The magistrates, who indicated they had intended remanding him on bail for the preparation of reports, issued a warrant for his arrest.

Daniel King, defending, said Holt had simply lost his bottle.

"The pressure was simply too much for him," said Mr King. "He panicked and that panic ran through to the next day when he failed to attend to answer his police bail."

Mr King said there was no question of Holt going on the run. "The irony is that he went home and it was inevitable that the warrant would be executed," said Mr King.

"What happened last week was a moment of madness but if you trust him with bail today he will answer it."