A MAN who used to have a £100-a day heroin habit was aiming to reform after being accepted for a residential drugs counselling course in Oxford, a court heard.

And Paul Frank Almond, 29, earned the praise of his project workers -- despite admitting that he had tried to steal their minibus and caused more than £1,100 worth of damage in the process.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Almond was living in accommodation provided by the Thomas Project (Those on the Margins of Society) in Blackburn when he and two associates "hot-wired" the project transport.

As it set off, the steering lock came on and the vehicle crashed into a garage causing £300-worth of damage to the van and £824-worth of damage to the garage.

Almond, 29, of Preston New Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without consent. Sentence was deferred until December 10.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said Almond was one of the Thomas Project's many success stories.

Vivien Hoyle, from the project, said Almond had come to them from prison asking for help to beat his addiction. "We have been impressed with the way he has taken responsibility for this incident," said Mrs Hoyle.