A thief stole the car of a man found dead at his home after they had been drinking and taking drugs together, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Michael Considine drove off in Robert Lennon’s Volkswagen Polo after their binge-drinking session.

Mr Lennon, 33, was found dead on his sofa, apparently from inhaling his vomit after drinking a significant quantity of alcohol and taking a large dosage of drugs.

Sentencing Considine to an 18-month community order, with a high-level drug rehabilitation requirement, yesterday, Judge John Potter said the case was tinged by tragedy.

Judge Potter said: “It is a tragedy which is not of your direct making.

“You bear no direct responsibility for that death, I make that very clear. You are not to be sentenced on the basis you contributed in any way for that death.”

Considine, 28, of Merchants Court, East Bowling, Bradford, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to the theft of a Volkswagen Polo, between January 26 and 29 this year.

Prosecutor Howard Shaw told the court yesterday the Polo belonged to Mr Lennon’s mother, Elizabeth, but it was used and kept by her son at his home in Wilson Road, Wyke.

He was found dead by his aunt on Saturday, January 28. He was found to be three times over the legal driving limit for alcohol and had taken a significant quantity of prescribed anti-depressants. His car was missing.

Mr Shaw said Mr Lennon had spent the previous evening drinking with neighbours.

He said the defendant had told a woman he had got Mr Lennon’s car. He said he had met him in a pub and had given him a significant quantity of diazepam, but a medical examination found that to be untrue.

The key ring to the Volkswagen was later identified by Mrs Lennon but the car has never been recovered.

Considine’s solicitor advocate, Ashok Khular, said his client had been in custody for 110 days.

He said he had pleaded guilty on the basis that he had gone to Mr Lennon’s house for an hour. They had a few drinks and listened to music and had drugs which he believed was ketamine.

Judge Potter said: “During the course of the drinking binge that you had embarked upon, at some point you decided to take the car that was parked outside.”

He said the defendant had spent the equivalent of six months in custody.

After the hearing, Detective Inspector Steve Snow, who led the investigation, said: “This offence arose from a tragic incident. Hopefully this sentence will bring some closure to the family.”