POLICE have issued an appeal to track down a 39 year old Skipton woman found guilty in her absence of taking a car without the elderly owner's consent.

Adele Evans took the 81 year old's car at around midnight on April 15 to drive to Bradford to see her partner, heard Skipton magistrates court.

He was too ill and frightened to attend court, had suffered a mini stroke and was a 'changed man', the court was told.

Evans returned the car, but had been clocked by a speed camera twice on Bradford Road, Shipley as she drove to and from Bradford.

North Yorkshire Police have today issued a photograph with an appeal to try and trace Evans, of no fixed address but believed to be in the Skipton area.

The 81-year-old's son, Brian Wood told the court hearing on Tuesday he was 'a hundred per cent sure' his father would not have let Evans take the keys and told how his father had said Evans would get people to 'sort him out' if he had given evidence at court.

"At the time, he was fine, but his health has deteriorated, he has had a mini stroke and he has become withdrawn, he keeps his doors locked and is a changed man," said Mr Wood.

"He was too scared to come to court because of the threats from Adele Evans. He just wants it to stop, he says she has threatened to get people to sort him out, if he comes to court."

The court heard Evans, of Sawley Street, was interviewed by police after the elderly owner received two notices of intended prosecution after his car had been caught on the speed camera.

Evans, who was on bail at the time for stealing a mobile phone from a house in Skipton, told police she had known the 81 year old for a couple of months and had originally asked him if he would drive her to Bradford, but that he had been drinking.

She told police she was aware that people might think bearing in mind the age difference, but that she was not taking advantage of him.

In defence, John Kelly, said Evans said she did have permission to take the car and that she had returned it to its owner.

The problems had started when the letters of intended prosecution arrived, and it was at that point that Mr Wood had said he had not given his consent, said Mr Kelly.

Magistrates agreed to a 'hearsay' application from Brian Wood in relation to his father, after agreeing Mr Wood himself was unfit both physically and mentally to attend court.

They said they were content he had not given his consent to Evans to take the car, found her guilty in absence and issued a warrant, not backed with bail, for her arrest.

North Yorkshire Police ask who thinks they might have seen her or who has any information about her whereabouts is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police. Please dial 101, select option 2 and ask for Craven Intelligence Unit.

If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote reference number 12160203228.