A CHARITY box thief was identified by members of the public after an appeal in the Lancashire Telegraph.

Blackburn magistrates heard Martin Thomas stole donations meant for a youth cancer charity and money intended for breastfeeding mothers.

And a district judge described his crimes as “heinous”.

Thomas, 34, formerly of Helston Close,Burnley, pleaded guilty to theft of a charity box from the Postal Order pub and one from Softsell Computers, both in Darwen Street, Blackburn. He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 weeks with a six months drug rehabilitation requirement and a curfew between 8 pm and 5 am for four weeks. He was ordered to pay £50 compensation, £85 costs and £115 costs.

Alex Man, prosecuting, said the defendant had been identified by members of the public following the media appeal.

“People put money in charity boxes in the hope it is going to good causes and theft of them is a particularly mean, causing a lot of upset,” said Mrs Mann.

District Judge James Clarke said the offences reflected badly on Thomas, who is now living in Clough Avenue, Westhoughton.

“These offences are significantly different to stealing other items from shops,” said District Judge Clarke. “These are donations from members of the public intended for charitable purposes and there is little or no excuse for these offences.”

Mark Williams, defending, said his client accepted there was something unpleasant about the theft of charity boxes.