A HORRIFIED woman called police after she found a man inside her car on Christmas Day.

Bolton magistrates heard how the owner of the car received a phone call from a neighbour just after 11.30pm to tell her that the lights on her VW Polo parked on Rigby Street, Great Lever, were flashing on and off.

Police were called and officers discovered 40-year-old Peter Charnock in the driver’s seat with the contents of the glove box on the dashboard and the ignition cover removed.

Gail O’Brien, prosecuting, said Charnock, of no fixed address, told police he had got into the car because it was cold and raining and entertained himself by playing a cassette tape for up to half an hour. He added that he had been trying to disconnect the battery to stop the lights flashing.

Isobel Gray, defending, said Charnock, who has a lengthy criminal record and a history of mental health problems, had not attempted to get away.

Magistrates sentenced Charnock to spend one day in custody.