A DRUG addict completely stripped the lead flashing from a primary school roof resulting in £2,000 worth of damage.

Jobless cannabis user Damion Thornton, 20, twice hit St Joseph's RC School in Stacksteads and was rumbled by DNA after leaving a pair of scissors on the roof.

Thornton flogged his first haul for £15, but claimed a third party must have found his second stash and sold it on, Burnley magistrates heard.

Thornton, who had a knife on him when later arrested, admitted two theft charges and having an offensive weapon in public.

The defendant, of Hammond Avenue, Stacksteads, was bailed until June 6, for a pre-sentence report and was banned from entering any school premises.

Sophie Lorimer, prosecuting, told the court in April all the lead flashing was removed from the roof of St Joseph's. The only clue to the culprit at that stage was the pair of black handled of scissors.

The defendant's DNA was on them, officers went searching for him and arrested him.

He then produced a butterfly knife from his pocket, which he said he had bought from a shop in Accrington.

Mrs Lorimer said Thornton fully admitted the thefts and said he had put the second haul of lead in an undisclosed location but it had gone.

The prosecutor added the school roof would cost £2,124 to repair.

Thornton was given a conditional caution for theft last December.

The defendant told the hearing he had "nothing really" to say about the offences but was sorry.

The court was told the probation service did not think Thornton was suitable for unpaid work due to health but a supervision order would help.