A 37-YEAR-OLD burglar fled empty handed after activating an anti-theft smoke screen in a Darwen pub.

Blackburn magistrates heard once the smoke had cleared from the Old Chapel police were able to view CCTV which showed Richard Gregson trying to open tills.

Gregson, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal. He was remanded in custody until May 25 when evidence will be called to determine whether he went equipped with the screwdriver he used to try and force the tills or whether, as he claimed, he had found the implement inside the pub.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the alarm at the pub had been triggered in the early hours and when the manager arrived police and firefighters were already there.

She said Gregson had been made subject to a suspended prison sentence in February.

Damian Pickup, defending, said his client knew he would be going to prison and actually welcomed it.

"He feels he needs to go to prison to get himself away from heroin and back on track," said Mr Pickup.

"He has been staying in some derelict flats and on this morning woke up 'rattling'. He needed heroin and he needed money to buy it."

Mr Pickup said Gregson denied taking the screwdriver with him which the court was told could move the offence into a higher sentencing bracket.