A 38 year old man was found with a bag containing items stolen in two sneak in burglaries hours earlier.

Blackburn magistrates heard Steven Martin Lee claimed he had just found the bag and was going through it when police spotted him.

Lee, of Infirmary Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of a bus pass and theft of a school book. He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £50 compensation to each of the victims.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said the owner of the bus pass was in her home at about 11 pm when she felt a draft. "She found the door open and discovered that her handbag had been stolen in a sneak in burglary," said Mrs Mann. "She worked as a pub landlady for 25 years and considers herself a strong and confident person but this offence has made her feel scared in her own home."

The second offence followed a similar pattern with the school girl's brother realising someone had been in the house when he saw footprints on the carpet.

Peter King, defending, said his client pleaded guilty to theft on the basis he had found the items in a bag at the entrance to a field in Young Street, Mill Hill.

"He s not linked to the burglaries or the distress caused to the victims," said Mr King.