A FRAUDSTER has gone missing after magistrates let him leave the court for a lunch break.

Stewart Simpson, 20, had admitted a string of deception charges before the Burnley bench in the morning.

He was told to return in the afternoon for sentence and warned he might be jailed.

But when the court reconvened in the afternoon he failed to turn up.

The court issued a warrant for the arrest of Simpson, of Westgate, Burnley, and police are now hunting him.

Simpson pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation, four counts of using a licence with intent to deceive, driving whilst disqualified, three counts of using an uninsured vehicle and two of driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, between last November and January this year. During the morning, Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said Simpson was banned from driving last June for six months.

At one point, either before or after, he obtained a fake driving licence on the internet. It was examined by somebody from the DVLA and as well as having discrepancies, it had the number five in the date of birth details - which was only on women's driving licences.

Mr Robinson said Simpson got it in the name of Lawson, which was his birth name, but he was legally known as Simpson. He was stopped whilst he was disqualified, was not insured and prod-uced false documents.

The vehicle was seized and Simpson could not get it back until he produced a valid licence and insurance. In December, the defendant used his mother's bank card to get insurance on the internet and she knew nothing about it. The policy was later cancelled.

Mr Robinson said Simpson went to Burnley police station, produced the false licence and got the car back.

He was later spotted behind the wheel, was no longer disqualified but was now driving with no licence. He then produced a false photo card licence.

In January, Simpson produced the forged counter-part of the licence.

He was still not insured.

He said Simpson, arrested on December 28, had previous convictions for fraud and deception and last July was jailed for six months.

Nick Cassidy, defending, said Simpson had an alcohol problem.

He had gone through a troubled childhood.