A SCAFFOLDER helped himself to scaffolding stored on a Burnley site.

Blackburn magistrates heard when he was stopped by police Sean Sumner exonerated the two 17-year-old boys who were with him and helped load up his van.

Sumner, 52, of Herbert Street, Radcliffe, pleaded guilty to theft of scaffolding worth £1,200 belonging to Paul Jones.

He was made subject to a curfew for six months between 8pm and 6am and ordered to pay £85 costs and £95 victim surcharge.

Leigh Morgan, prosecuting. said the manager of a building site in Holbrook Avenue, Burnley was alerted and saw on the CCTV system that scaffolding was being loaded onto a flat backed van.

Police were notified and followed the van down the M66 before stopping it in Bury.

"The defendant was driving and there were two 17-year-old lads in the van with him," said Ms Morgan.

She said the owner of the scaffolding, Mr Jones, estimated the 40 pieces of scaffolding recovered from the van would have cost him £1,200 to replace.

"He says he has worked hard to build up his business and the loss would have caused him difficulties," said Ms Morgan.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client was adamant there had not been any pre-planning.

"He is a scaffolder and has worked in construction for most of his life and is currently furloughed," said Mr Price.

"He had been wondering whether he could start up on his own and that had been on his mind when he saw this scaffolding."