A PETTY criminal caught handling a £12,000 stolen car was warned to stop placing himself at the disposal of burglars – or face jail.

Tony Hayton, 45, was spotted with the silver Vauxhall Corsa on the same day as it had been stolen from a home in Victoria Crescent, Earby, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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Questioned by police he would not say who had handed him the keys, the court heard.

Kath Johnson, defending, said her client was not going to be the main beneficiary from the stolen car.

Prosecutor Julian Goode said when police searched Hayton’s home, in Waddington Street, Nelson, they found a stolen GT mountain bike, worth £180.

He admitted two offences of handling stolen goods and was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Passing sentence, Judge Beverley Lunt told Hayton that if he committed any more offences over the next year then he would serve time behind bars.

The court heard the defendant had a long-standing heroin problem, which he had managed to overcome, and was now back living with his parents, with his young daughter, who he wanted to provide a stable home for.