A 50-YEAR-OLD man ended up sleeping rough in Blackburn after giving his last £30 to his estranged wife to buy dog food.

Blackburn magistrates heard Christopher Robert Brown realised he had left himself without enough money to get back to his home in Rochdale and went back and asked his wife for £5 back.

After sleeping rough he went back again the next day and this time was arrested for breaching a restraining order.

Brown, of Oak Street, Shawforth, pleaded guilty to breaching the order.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks in custody suspended for 12 months, made subject to a curfew between 9 pm and 6 am and ordered to pay £85 costs and £115 victim surcharge.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the couple had been separated for two years but were still married.

She said he turned up at her house asking to be let in. She left but when he returned later on she threw some clothes out of the upstairs window because it was cold.

He returned again the following day asking for money and saying that he loved her.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client told a different tale. He said she had contacted him saying she was in financial difficulties and couldn't afford to pay for dog food.

"He came to Blackburn and gave her £30 but then realised he had left himself short and couldn't get back to Rochdale," said Mr Price.

"He went back and asked for £5 and she refused. He slept rough overnight and then tried again on Saturday."