A car owner who was visiting his dad saw a man interfering with their vehicles on the live CCTV system.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Barry Preston later admitted he was looking for money so he could buy food because he was hungry.

Preston, 62, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two charges of vehicle interference.

He was jailed for four weeks and ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge on release.

District Judge Alex Boyd said the offences were at the lower end of the scale but were aggravated by the fact he was subject to a community order and post-sentence supervision at the time he committed the offences.

“You were made subject to a community order only a month ago and you have not been complying,” said District Judge Boyd.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said Javed Khan went to visit his father and parked in the back alley behind his house in Haslingden which was covered by CCTV.

“The CCTV captured the defendant trying the car door of his father’s car and then entering his car which had been left unlocked,” said Mr Robinson.

“Mr Khan went out and chased the defendant. He managed to detain him until the police arrived.”

Mr Robinson said nothing was stolen and no damage was caused to the vehicles.

In mitigation, Aftab Bakhat said his client understood he had put himself in a difficult position.

He said in the past Preston had been addicted to heroin and crack cocaine which led to a breakdown of his marriage.

“He is now drug-free but he accepts he needs the support of the probation service to remain that way,” added Mr Bakhat.