A 36-YEAR-OLD man had a lock in with a difference after falling asleep in the toilets of a Colne pub.

Blackburn magistrates heard Gareth Johnson emerged from the gents at the Wallace Hartley and found the pub deserted and in darkness.

And he helped himself to spirits from behind the bar before letting himself out through a fire exit.

Johnson, of Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of four bottles of spirits. He was sent in custody to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced after the court heard the offence put him in breach of a suspended sentence imposed by the crown court.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said the duty manager had locked up at about 1.15am. Police responded to an alarm at about 2.35am and saw Johnson within 10 metres of the pub with a bag which contained four bottles of spirits. He dropped the bag and ran off but was eventually located by the police dog.

CCTV from inside the pub showed Johnson leaving the gents and then go behind the bar.

Catherine Fell, defending,said Johnson had fallen asleep in the toilets and woke up about 2am.

"When he came out the pub was in darkness and he couldn't see anything," said Miss Fell. "When he realised where he was he fell to temptation."