A JOINERY contractor working at the Hollins Technology College, Accrington, during the summer holiday was caught on CCTV interfering with a cash machine which students use to pay for meals.

Blackburn magistrates heard Dylan Matthew Brown claimed he was using the machine to straighten a chisel and denied taking any money although a check on the cash machine showed £101 was missing.

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Brown, 20, of Marlborough Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a cash machine, attempted theft from a BT phone box and going equipped for theft.

He was ordered to do 60 hours unpaid work and pay £150 criminal court charge, £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge. Tracey Yates, prosecuting, said after staff had discovered damage to the cash machine they viewed CCTV which showed Brown near the equipment.

She said Brown was also caught on CCTV interfering with a BT phone box outside Accrington Post Office.

“He said he used the cash box to try and straighten a chisel but the box snapped,” said Mrs Yates.

Ian Huggan, defending, said as a result of the investigation into the incident at the school, £1,000 in wages that were due to his client had not been paid.

“That lead to the attempted theft from the BT phone,” said Mr Huggan.

“He was lying in bed worrying about money and debts that he had and went out to steal.”