STAFF at a Blackburn hotel found needles all over the floor and the TV missing when they went in to clean a room.

Blackburn magistrates heard a check of CCTV showed a female acting as lookout as the male guest left with the television under a blanket.

The court was told the manager managed to find the couple in the town centre and the man said he would try to recover the set but they then both ran off.

Glen Bowers, 40, of Higson Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of a TV from the Kings Hotel. He was jailed for four weeks and ordered to pay £50 compensation and £122 victim surcharge.

Ian Huggan, defending, Bowers and his girlfriend started arguing because it was her birthday and he hadn't bought her anything.

"He took the TV to raise some money so he could buy her a present," said Mr Huggan.