A 25-YEAR-OLD man who was living at his girlfriend’s grandparents’ house rewarded their hospitality by stealing off them while they were away on holiday.

Blackburn magistrates heard Lucas Jack Botterill sold £295 worth of power tools to Cash Converter so he could pay a drug debt.

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Botterill, of Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of power tools from David Evans. He was fined £300 with £250 compensation, £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said after returning from holiday the grandparents realised the tools were missing and saw an electric drill that belonged to them in a pawn shop. The granddaughter challenged Botterill admitted what he had done.

Mrs White said Botterill was initially given a caution on condition he paid £295 compensation, adding: “No efforts were made to pay and he now appears in court.”

Zabair Afzal, defending, said Botterill was being threatened by people he owed money to. He sold the tools intending to buy them back within 28 days but could not raise the money.

“He is now single because of this incident,” said Mr Afzal.