A HOUSEHOLDER who discovered a 6ft fence panel missing from his garden found it lying in the garden of a nearby house.

Blackburn magistrates heard two men had been caught on CCTV walking down a back alley carrying the panel in broad daylight.

Duncan James Faller, 25, of the Salvation Army, Heaton Street, admitted theft of a £30 fence panel belonging to John Priestly. Faller was ordered to complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity and pay a £180 criminal court charge and £60 victim surcharge.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Mr Priestly went to the bottom of his garden and saw that a panel was missing from his fence. Due to earlier problems he went to an address on Ayr Road where he found the missing panel.

Damian Pickup, defending, said Faller claimed he and his friend had found the panel leaning against a wall near bins in a back alley.

Mr Pickup said: “A friend of theirs was doing work in his garden in Ayr Road and they took it there for him to use. He thought it was a discarded fence panel and is adamant that at the time he did not realise he was committing an offence.”

A bail-backed warrant was issued for the arrest of James Creasey, 25, of the Salvation Army, Heaton Street, Blackburn, who failed to appear to answer the same charge.