A MAN who was given a bed for the night repaid his host's generosity by taking his car the following morning.

Blackburn magistrates heard the owner of the car was in the shower when he looked out and saw his Range Rover Evoque being driven away by Levi Walsh.

Walsh, 33, of Dunoon Drive, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to taking without consent and burglary at Exchange Coffee, Fleming Square.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison and banned from driving for 14 months.

Deputy Judge David Gittins said the taking without consent offence was clearly a breach of the trust of a friend.

Scott Parker, prosecuting, said the owner of the Range Rover, a car salesman, went to a cash machine on Darwen Street in the early hours of the morning. He saw Walsh who asked if he could stay at his house overnight and he agreed because he knew him.

"The following morning he was in the shower and looked out to see his car being driven away," said Mr Parker. "He ran downstairs but the car was gone."

Mr Parker said the burglary at Exchange Coffee had occurred overnight. CCTV showed the defendant smashing a window and climbing into the premises. Inside there had been further damage caused and an untidy search carried out.

"A £400 laptop was stolen and £2,500 worth of damage caused," said Mr Parker.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client accepted carrying out a fairly unsophisticated burglary.

He said the defendant claimed he was given permission to take the car to a shop and come straight back.

"He has to accept he has gone beyond what he was authorised to do," said Mr Taylor.