A MAIL-order company set up a "sting" when an order for a satellite decoder was not all that it should have been.

Burnley Crown Court heard how the firm sent a dummy box to the person who had placed the order so that police could find out who it was and it was collected by father of six Ghulam Jalani, 38.

Jalani escaped jail after a judge told him he had not been in trouble for 15 years. Recorder Anthony Sander gave him a 75-hour community punishment order, with costs of £300. The defendant, of Oxford Road, Brierfield, was convicted of theft by a jury.

Judith McCullough, prosecuting, said after credit checks were carried out, it was found a block was placed on the credit card being used to place an order. It was decided a dummy box should be sent to the person placing the order so police could find out who it was,

A parcel was sent to the Parcel Force depot in Blackburn and was collecetd by the defendant. He was later arrested, denied having made the order but when officers searched his house, they found the dummy satellite decoder in a cupboard hidden behind some other items.

Roger Baldwin, defending, said two men had gone to the depot and it was said the older man had not participated and had just hung around. The younger man was cautioned.