A MAN betrayed the trust of a friend who had taken him in ­— by stealing from her.

Blackburn magistrates heard Samuel James Chew stole a Playstation and other electrical items along with cash from Holly Marsden.

She had put the money to one side for her rent and she had to borrow from her brother to pay her landlord.

Chew, 25, of Monk Street, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to theft of £650 cash and a Playstation. He was made subject to a curfew between 9pm and 6am for 18 weeks and ordered to pay £650 compensation, £85 costs and £90 victim surcharge.

Stacey Morrow, prosecuting, said Miss Marsden had been friends with the defendant and had allowed him to stay at her home in Clitheroe because he had nowhere else to go.

She kept her rent money and savings in a tin in the bottom of a cupboard in her bedroom and knew Chew was responsible when she discovered the money was missing. She then noticed the Playstation was missing and a neighbour’s CCTV showed him leaving with the equipment.

“She posted on Facebook in regard to the items taken and a female contacted her and confirmed Chew had got into her car with the Playstation and she had taken him to a shop in Blackburn,” said Miss Morrow. “The victim said she was really shocked. She felt betrayed having trusted him to stay in her house.”

Miss Morrow said despite that Miss Marsden had given Chew the chance to put things right but he hadn’t.

Peter King, defending, said the offence was in October 2019 and the delay in proceedings was “unfathomable”

“He was interviewed in November 2019 and admitted his part in this offence completely,” said Mr King. “He fully accepts there was a breach of trust.