A DRUNKEN burglar who struggled to remove a jacket from a mannequin removed the dummy's arms and hands and walked off with then and the garment.

Blackburn magistrates heard Simon Swan's 'amateurish' offence was captured on CCTV which showed him walking down the street with the arms still dangling from the coat.

Swan, 49, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary at Ewood Print Bar and theft of a Port West jacket and two mannequin arms and hands worth £475.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £300 compensation.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said CCTV showed Swan trying to smash the window of the T-shirt printing business with a brick.

He was unsuccessful because of a laminate covering but returned an hour later and peeled away the protective layer with his hands.

"Inside the store he is seen struggling to remove the jacket from the mannequin and eventually removes its arms and hands as well and leaves carrying them all," said Mrs White.

Gareth Price, defending, said it had been an amateurish effort without any particular planning.

"He is battling his personal demons with drink and is waiting to go into residential rehab," said Mr Price.