A PLUMBER took money off a customer to buy materials but never carried out the work.

Blackburn magistrates heard that David Clark McDowell had behaved in a similar way in the past but a prosecution had been stopped because he paid back the money.

McDowell, 57, of Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of £280 from Munir Ahmed. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £280 compensation and £250 costs.

Neil White, prosecuting, said Mr Ahmed knew McDowell through his work as a taxi driver and had engaged him to carry out some plumbing. He initially handed over £80 and McDowell said he would start next week.

"A month later he still hadn't made a start. He said he would start the following day but asked for £200 to buy the radiators."

Mr Ahmed eventually contacted the police. Aftab Bakhat, defending, said McDowell had not had any previous complaints in the 20 years he had been working. He had since closed down the business.