Man held in bizarre sequence of events

Blackburn magistrates heard that Andrew Michael Houghton had gone by taxi to a party in Ribchester but when they got there the taxi driver joined the party and started drinking. He claimed that at some stage his car was taken without consent but Andrew Michael Houghton said the driver had given his friend permission to drive the car.

But Houghton accepted that he did not have permission when he drove the car off a forecourt in Wilpshire and crashed it into two other vehicles.

And after fleeing the scene he returned to the petrol station only to join the queue behind the off duty inspector.

Houghton, 23, of Weavers Court, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to taking a car without consent, failing to stop after an accident, driving with excess alcohol and without insurance. He was remanded on bail for a pre-sentence report.

Charlotte Crane, prosecuting, said the taxi driver had accepted an invitation to go into the house for drinks. He was phoning a friend to pick him up when he saw that his taxi had gone and his keys were missing.

At 7 am the following morning there was an accident at the junction of Parsonage Road and Whalley New Road in Wilpshire. The taxi, driven by Houghton collided with a car and sent it into another vehicle.

"The driver left the scene but an off duty detective inspector who had been filling his car at the nearby filling station saw three men and noted their descriptions,"said Miss Crane.

"After checking on the people involved and calling for uniformed support the detective returned to the petrol station to pay for his fuel."While he was in the queue Houghton came into the shop out of breath as if he had been running. The officer arrested him.

Rachel Adamson, defending, said it was strange the taxi driver had gone into the party with Houghton and his friends and started drinking with them.

"My client says the taxi driver lent the car to one of his friends but he accepts that he had no authority," said Miss Adamson.