A WANNABE rapper who sings about love, crime, and politics has admitted breaking into town centre businesses.

Wasim Khan, 18, of Windermere Close, performs under the name of ‘T-Star Blackburn’ and is a YouTube hit with lyrics such as ‘I’m innocent’ and ‘Honesty is the policy’.

But at Blackburn magistrates the hip hop artist pleaded guilty to prising open the metal shutters of Zainab fashion store in Randall Street, Whalley Range, on February 10, smashing the glass door with a house brick and stealing £60 and toiletries.

Two other burglaries were taken into consideration including one nearby at Safaa Couture, Oswald Street, on December 4, where Khan used the same method and this time stole £130.

The court heard that Khan has a criminal record from being a youth and has had a long involvement with the Youth Offending Team.

His case was adjourned until next Wednesday for a full pre-sentencing report.

Businesses in the Whalley Range area had been alarmed by a spate of break-ins and called for crisis meetings with police and council chiefs.

A group of traders established a business watch group which monitored the area at night and last month, after a number of open meetings, new CCTV cameras were positioned at the junction of Whalley Range, Victoria Street and Randall Street and the crime spree has tailed off.

On Wednesday, Khan appeared at court in an Adidas hooded top which he wears in his music videos and spoke only to confirm his name, address and to plead guilty.

Hussain Akhtar, who leads the Whalley Range Bazaar community group described Khan as a ‘disaffected youth’ and said: “Hopefully this is a lesson learned.

“I understand that anybody can make a mistake at a young age, but as a good community we want to help people if they want a job.”

Insp Abid Khan said: “The local neighbourhood officers looked at wider CCTV from the area and identified this individual running away from Zainab at the time of the burglary and they identified him.

He was brought into custody and admitted the offence and two more were taken into consideration.

“We are working closely with the community and the business watch group and with CCTV now in place we will investigate as best we can.

Khan will be sentenced on Wednesday.