A 26-YEAR-OLD man sold property belonging to his partner to spite her.

Blackburn magistrates heard Simon Clark took a plasma TV, gold and silver rings, a laptop, hair straighteners and a vacuum cleaner and sold them to a drug dealer so he could buy cocaine.

The court was told Clark then handed himself in to the police and admitted what he had done.

But before he was brought to court he then removed curtains from the house and sold them as well.

Clark, of River Street, Colne, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft. He was fined £320 with £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge. Michael Church-Taylor, prosecuting, said following the first offence Clark walked into the police station and told them what he had done.

“Having been told he would be reported for that he went on to steal the curtains and sell them,” said Mr Church-Taylor. “He is still living with the lady who owns the property so in a way he has deprived himself.”

Richard Prew, defending, described the circumstances of the offences as “slightly odd.”

“He sold the goods out of spite but then felt guilty,” said Mr Prew. “He works full time and gives all the money to his partner to pay the bills.”