A MAN broke into a Blackburn mosque and stole a laptop which contained years of student work and information.

Blackburn magistrates heard Christopher Derbyshire was caught on CCTV brazenly looking around the building and then removing the laptop, cash and a CD player.

Derbyshire, 36, of Winterson Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to burglary at Masjid-E-Saliheen, on Didsbury Street.

He was jailed for 12 weeks and ordered to pay £430 compensation on his release.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said at the time of the offence Derbyshire was on bail for offences for which he subsequently received a suspended prison sentence.

Gareth Price, defending, said the offence and the matter for which his client got a suspended sentence were all committed in June, when his client was having difficulties with spice.

"To his credit, towards the end of June he decided he needed to make a fresh start and he got himself off drugs altogether," said Mr Price.

"He has formed a new relationship with a young lady who has no experience of the criminal justice system and things are looking up for him."

The chief executive of Lancashire Council of Mosques, Abdul Qureshi, said he was saddened by the incident.

The 60-year-old, from Burnley, said: "I'm sad in reality and wish he had not done it.

"What these people will get from mosques are people's contributions, which is taking from society.

"Punishing people is not something we desire but you shouldn't commit crime in the area.

"I hope the man who has been sentenced refrains from activities that harm the community in the future."

Cllr Maryam Batan, who represents the area, said she felt justice had been served with the 12-week prison sentence.

The ward councillor said: "I hope this sentence acts as a deterrent to other people.

"This type of crime affects the whole community because people who use the mosque have invested time and effort into it.

"All stake holders in that particular organisation will have to replace laptops and other equipment. It all has a cost on the victim.

"I think justice has been served with the 12 week sentence."