A MAN who broke into a town centre beauty salon was already subject to three suspended prison sentences and a community order.

Blackburn magistrates all the orders had been made in the last eight months and they decided Scott McKay's run of luck should come to an end.

McKay, 44, of Sapphire Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary at Talia's Beauty Salon, King William Street, and theft of a till, cash and an iPad.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks for the offence and a further 20 weeks for breaching the suspended sentence orders which were all activated.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said the suspended sentence orders had been made in May, June and July and the community order in October when the operational period of all the suspended sentences were extended.

He said the door of the salon had been smashed and the till, containing £60 cash, and an iPad had been stolen. McKay's blood was found inside the shop.

Ian Huggan, defending, said his client had a troubled upbringing and had an extensive criminal record related to his drink and drug problems.

"There have been times in the past when probation have washed their hands of him," said Mr Huggan. "Despite his history there has been a significant change in his life."

He said McKay had been living in hostels and finding it difficult to change his lifestyle because of the people he was sharing the accommodation with.

"With the help of the probation service and a local organisation called Stepping Stones he has made significant efforts to address that," said Mr Huggan.

He said the death of the defendant's father in November had hit his client hard.

"He didn't realise he was abusing alcohol again," said Mr Huggan.

"Stepping Stones are looking at a rehab place for him."

Talia Boardman, owner of Talia’s Beauty Studio, said the burglary came at a really bad time but she didn't want to blame McKay.

She said “I have just had a baby, so it was the last thing I needed after coming back from maternity leave.

“It was a very selfish thing to do but I don’t want to talk badly of the person who did it – some people are just desperate and do desperate things.”

Talia’s Beauty Studio was thriving until the pandemic hit in 2020. She said lockdown has been challenging but says things are starting to “look up” now that restrictions are starting to ease.

She said: “Lockdown has been a very difficult – but business is going well now.

“We’re very busy and we’ve been training clients.

“Hopefully things will start to look up now Covid restrictions are starting to ease."