A 27-year-old man found in possession of copper piping and cable told police he had been promised £40 by travellers if he stripped the wire.
Blackburn magistrates heard officers who attended an address in Accrington found the copper in the living room and an upstairs bedroom.
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Stephen George, of Slaidburn Drive, Accrington, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property and possessing cannabis. He was ordered to do 40 hours unpaid work and pay £145 costs.
Gareth Price, defending, said the house was his client's sister's and he was doing her a favour by looking after it while she was in prison.
"He was visited by people who made it clear they expected him to help them by storing the copper piping and stripping the cable," said Mr Price.
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