A MAN who stole 152 bars of chocolate and packets of sweets admitted he intended to sell them to buy drugs.

Blackburn magistrates heard Paul Frank Almond was detained by security staff as he left Wilko with £82 worth of confectionery.

And the court was told Almond, who was already subject to two conditional discharges, became abusive when police refused to give him a penalty notice.

Almond, 45, of Walmsley Street, Great Harwood, pleaded guilty to theft from Wilko. He was made subject to a curfew between 7pm and 7am for four weeks and ordered to pay £90 victim surcharge.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Almond told police he was not in a normal state of mind due to loss of a female member of his family and a friend.

"He also said he intended to sell the confectionery to buy drugs," said Mrs Yates.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client had taken a tablet but wasn't sure what it was.

"It had an impact on him and as a result he has little recollection of what went on," said Mr Taylor. "He was in some kind of a haze."