A THIEF who pinched a £10,000 excavator calmly asked police who were looking for him for directions, a court heard.

Burnley magistrates heard how construction worker turned herion addict Stuart Jon Davey, 32, took the heavy plant from an isolated field in Slaidburn and was seen driving it away on a flat back lorry by officers.

Davey, who also clocked up a catalogue of motoring offences involving a police chase, had been circulated as wanted by police after not answering bail, flouted court orders and helped himself to roof slates from people's homes, was jailed for a total of eight months.

The defendant, of Barrowford Road, Padiham, whose parents are said to be well known in Burnley and Cliviger, was also banned from driving for 18 months.

Davey admitted allegations of theft, police obstruction, failing to surrender, breaching a community punishment order, driving without due care and attention, no licence, no insurance and no test certificate.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, told how police pulled up behind the flat back lorry on a country lane. Davey quite calmly asked for directions to Clitheroe and claimed he was delivering the machinery for jobs the following morning.

The officer did not want to frighten the defendant and alerted colleagues who intercepted him further down the road.

David Lawson, defending, said Davey had taken the excavator to repay a drugs debt.

Davey had been injured while working, had been unable to carry on his employment and had got addicted to heroin.

He now had hepatitis B and C as well as deep vein thrombosis.

He had been in and out of hospital over the last six months but was now clean of drugs.

Mr Lawson said the defendant's family was well-known and his parents felt ashamed and remorse at how their son had turned out.

Davey had been educated at St Wilfrid's School, in Blackburn, but got his first conviction after a family dispute.