¿¿A THIRTY-five-year old man betrayed the trust of an 83 year old World War II veteran by taking his mobility car.

Blackburn magistrates heard Kurt Baron was a guest in the victim’s Accrington home and was left alone when he went to get a newspaper cutting about his time serving with the Parachute Regiment.

After Baron left Edwin Cramp realised his car keys were missing and when Baron was later arrested driving the vehicle he was more than double the drink drive limit.

Baron, 35, of Lydia Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to taking the car without consent and driving it with excess alcohol and without a licence or insurance. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the car was Mr Cramp’s mobility vehicle. He knew the defendant through a friend and he had often visited his flat.

On the night of the offence he turned up with a female and had been interested to read the newspaper article

Mr Cramp told police he felt betrayed and angry by the actions of Baron.

"I can’t believe Kurt would do this to me," he said.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Baron felt thoroughly ashamed of himself. He claimed another man had been with them and he had actually taken the keys and driven the car.

"At some point the other man left and my client took over driving the car," said Mr Taylor. "His intention was to take the car back to where it had been parked."