A SCRAP metal thief was warned he faced prison if he repeated the offence, which a district judge said was becoming more prevalent because of the high value of copper.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Robert Douglas and another man entered the boiler house at the former Blackburn Royal Infirmary and bagged up copper piping and wiring.

Douglas, 45, of Shadsworth House, Dunoon Drive, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of copper and wiring.

He was made subject to community supervision for nine months, with a six- month drug rehabilitation requirement.

Philip Potter, prosecuting, said Douglas and the other man had entered the hospital grounds through a hole in the fence and removed copper, which they intended to sell.

“At the moment if it isn’t nailed down, and sometimes even if it is, people are taking copper and weighing it in because of the high scrap value,” said Mr Potter.

The judge said scrap had a significant value these days.

“Whether the property is empty, or being demolished, doesn’t matter, it still belongs to somebody,” said Mr Ward.

“This is a very prevalent offence at the moment.”