Former resident pilfered roof tiles

8:49pm Thursday 24th January 2008

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A MAN was caught stealing roof tiles from a house where he used to live.

Blackburn magistrates heard Peter Cassidy had been forced to move when the house had been subject to compulsory purchase.

But Rachel Adamson, defending, said her client refuted prosecution claims that he felt he still had a claim on the house in Alaska Street because he had not been paid enough.

Cassidy, 45, of Coldstream Place, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft.

He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £80 costs.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said the house in Alaska Street had been purchased from Cassidy by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council as part of a regeneration programme.

Mrs White said when interviewed Cassidy admitted removing the tiles and said he intended using them on another property he was working on.

"He said he thought he wasn't doing any harm and that he didn't feel the money he received from the Council had been sufficient," said Mrs White. "In his view he still had a part claim to these tiles."

Miss Adamson said Cassidy had been out of trouble for many years until the breakdown of his marriage and business failure.

"The money from the compulsive purchase order was soaked up by paying off the mortgage and the marital breakdown," said Miss Adamson.

"He knows he shouldn't have been taking the tiles and regrets what has happened."