A WAREHOUSEMAN confessed to stealing dozens of rolls of exclusive leather wallpaper, worth around £10,000, when he appeared before Burnley magistrates.

Bosses at a Rossendale firm became suspicious when the leather wallcovering turned up for sale with a rival distributor, the court was told.

An investigation was launched and the finger of suspicion eventually pointed at warehouse operative Michael Smith, 20, formerly of Schofield Street, Waterfoot.

Smith, now of Medway, Stubbins, Rossendale, admitted theft of the leather wallpaper from a Rossendale company, which was not named in court.

Magistrates decided that he should be committed for sentence to Burnley Crown Court and bailed Smith until February 21.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said Smith's bosses initially became suspicious earlier this year when it was discovered, during a stock-check, that 20 rolls of the leather wallpaper had gone missing.

Smith himself was initially asked to conduct his own inquiry into where the missing wallpaper had disappeared to. This failed to reveal what had happened to it.

The firm moved premises and the wallpaper, which was only sold to one particular client, continued to go missing.

One of the firm's directors, Anthony Burke, suspected Smith was involved in their disappearance but was told by his lawyers that, without proof, he would leave himself open to prosecution if he sacked the youngster.

Later Mr Burke discovered that the leather wallpaper was on sale with a rival company. And when he asked where the firm had obtained the goods, the trail led back to Smith, said Mr Parker.

Arrested and interviewed by police, Smith admitted that he had stolen the wallpaper on around half a dozen occasions, receiving around £600 in total for the rolls.

The court heard that Smith, who has no previous convictions, had co-operated full with the police investigation into the missing wallpaper.