AN 'opportunist' thief pocketed the £50 cash back the customer in front of him at the self service checkout forgot to collect.

Blackburn magistrates heard the woman realised her mistake as she was leaving the store and went back and confronted Stephen John Seymour who had been in the queue behind her.

Seymour, 32, of Market Street, Bacup, pleaded guilty to theft of £50 belonging to Catherine Hallett.

He was fined £50 and ordered to pay £50 compensation, £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said while Ms Hallett was paying for her shopping she noticed a male and two females standing close behind her. She had requested £50 cash back which she forgot to collect after bagging her shopping.

"She realised what she had done as she was leaving and when she went back saw the male who had been standing behind her paying for his shopping," said Miss Aktar. "When she approached him he became agitated and the police were called."

Janet Sime, defending, said it had been an opportunist offence by her client who hadn't been in trouble for over seven years.

"There was £50 left in the machine and the woman had gone," said Miss Sime. "It was an opportunist offence and he knows he should have thought it through. He was embarrassed when she came back."