A MAN who borrowed money to pay for a relative's funeral ended up stealing to make the repayments after being put under pressure by the loan shark.

Blackburn magistrates heard Shahid Parvez Sarwar went on a shoplifting spree, repeatedly stealing trolley loads of goods.

Sarwar, 42, of Princess Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to stealing goods worth £200 from Tesco in Accrington on May 26 and various goods worth £204 from Tesco in Burnley on July 31.

The court heard he was already subject to two community orders imposed for shoplifting on June 7 and July 19 and a conditional discharge for shoplifting on May 14. All existing orders were revoked and he was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said Sarwar got away with goods worth £200 from Tesco in Accrington but was detained when he tried for a repeat from the Burnley store.

A check on CCTV showed he was responsible for the first offence.

Gareth Price, defending, said there had been a near 10-year gap in his client's record prior to the six offences committed in the space of a few months.

"He lost a member of his family and had to borrow money to pay for the funeral," said Mr Price.

"He finds himself under increasing pressure to repay that debt. He works hard to support his family but has been struggling to repay the debt."