A MAN loading his children into his van to take them to nursery discovered a man in the vehicle in the process of stealing from him.

Blackburn magistrates heard the dad had one child in his arm but used his free hand to hang onto Glen Bowers.

The court was told when his partner came and took the children inside the victim was able to take Bowers to the ground and detain him until the police arrived.

Bowers, 40, of Adelaide Terrace, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of a bank card and an iPhone belonging to Joshua Armstrong. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £100 compensation and £21 victim surcharge. The magistrates passed sentence after hearing the offence was committed in December 2018 and Bowers had received other sentences, including a suspended prison sentence, since then.

Joseph Broadsmith, prosecuting, said Mr Armstrong had been loading his tools into the van at about 7.50 am and left it unlocked while he went inside to collect his children. When he came back, carrying the youngest child and with the other walking by his side, he noticed the interior light was on and the passenger door slightly ajar.

"The defendant was lying across the seat and when Mr Armstrong told him to empty his pockets he tried to get away," said Mr Broadsmith. "Mr Armstrong was still holding his child and used his free hand to take hold of the defendant."

When Bowers was taken to the floor the aggrieved's telephone fell out of his pocket and smashed and the bank card also fell out.

"Mr Armstrong's partner said the children were crying hysterically and she took them back inside as quickly as she could," said Mr Broadsmith.

Ian Huggan, defending, said his client lived in Accrington at the time of the offence and was on his way to the chemist when he saw the vehicle was not locked.

"It was an opportunistic offence," said Mr Huggan. "The complainant grabbed hold and was not for letting go. He can't be criticised for that but my client suffered as a result of his detention."