A 39-YEAR-OLD man was caught on CCTV searching the McDonalds in King Street, Blackburn, wearing one of the chain's famous brown paper bags over his head.

Blackburn magistrates heard Lee Peel was also captured on CCTV outside the restaurant wearing the same clothes but not the headgear.

Peel, of Cherry Tree Lodge, Islington, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of a £500 laptop.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a 15 day rehabilitation activity requirement and nine months drugs rehabilitation requirement.

He was ordered to pay £540 compensation to McDonalds.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Peel had broken into the restaurant through a fire door at 2.56am. He was seen searching the office and tried to gain access to a safe.

Colleen Dickinson-Jones, defending, said Peel was in an "extremely bad place" at the time of the offence.

"When he smashed the window his original intention was to self harm with the glass," said Mrs Dickinson-Jones.