A MAN who called police claiming he had been assaulted turned out to be the author of his own misfortune.

Blackburn magistrates heard while police were checking CCTV footage as part of their investigations they realised John Lomax had been stealing from the store where he alleged the assault had taken place.

Lomax, 44, of Washington Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to stealing items of a value unknown from B & M Bargains in Accrington, He was given a conditional discharge for nine months and ordered to pay £25 victim surcharge.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said a stock check showed two X-Box controllers a speaker and a DVD player were missing from the shop. The x-Box controllers were found at the defendant's home.

"He has a raft of previous convictions for theft and received prison sentences for similar in October and January," said Mrs Mann.

Gareth Price, defending, said Lomax had called the police and made the allegation of assault at B & M.

"He insisted they go and view the CCTV footage and while they were doing that the saw the theft," said Mr Price.

He said Lomax only accepted stealing the X-Box controllers and not the other items.

He said Lomax was another person who had struggled since the introduction of Universal Credit.

"He is paid £190 a month and he has found it difficult to manage," said Mr Price.