TWO neighbours teamed up when one saw a "suspicious character" walking down their cul-de-sac late at night.

Blackburn magistrates heard the two men followed Bernard Rawstron and saw him walking down drives and trying car doors.

Rawstron, 45, of Leach Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to going equipped for theft with a torch.

He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge.

A charge of attempted burglary was withdrawn by the prosecution.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said one of the witnesses was outside having a cigarette at 11.30pm when he saw a man acting suspiciously.

He alerted a neighbour and they followed Rawstron.

"They saw him going up drives and into gardens and trying car doors," said Mrs Yates. "They called the police and continued to follow him and he was arrested a short time after."

Mrs Yates said Rawstron had 77 convictions on his record for 190 offences most of them for dishonesty

Mark Williams, defending, said he conceded his client had an appalling record but not for burglary.

"He admits he was equipped with the torch for dishonesty but not burglary," said Mr Williams.

"What you see on his record time after time is theft from motor vehicles. He had no tools because he had no intention of breaking into them. He tries door handles and if they are locked he moves on."