A MAN who had stolen property from a Burnley town centre shop and hidden it behind a nearby pub was detained when he went back to the shop to buy a carrier bag.

Blackburn magistrates heard police who turned up to arrest Dane Oliver found another £384 worth of property that had been stolen from another shot stashed behind the boozer.

Oliver, 24, of Parklands View, Burnley, pleaded guilty to four charges of shoplifting and possession of a craft knife blade in a public place. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £120 compensation to Boots.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, the theft from Wilko had been captured o CCTV and when Oliver returned shortly after to buy a bag he was recognised and deained.

"He had also been stealing from Boots earlier the same day and all the stolen property had been hidden behind the Swan public house which is opposite Boots," said Mrs Yates. "Items worth £68 from Wilko and £384 from Boots were recovered from the hiding place."

Oliver told police the blade was used to cut crack cocaine and he had forgotten it was in his pocket.

Mark Williams, defending, said his client theft offences had only started in recent months.

"That coincides with him moving to Burnley and being introduced to drugs," said Mr Williams. "He has got to this stage in a very short period of time."