A man was left "holding the baby" after his fellow shoplifters drove off at a Blackburn supermarket, a court as been told.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard how Alexandru Varga was detained outside the Asda store in Blackburn as his partners in crime disappeared.

Varga, 60, of Walter Street, Brierfield, pleaded guilty to theft of goods worth £368.67 from Asda.

He was given a conditional discharge for six months and ordered to pay £40 costs and £22 victim surcharge.

Graeme Tindall, prosecuting, said Varga had been the fall guy as others who had been involved where seen driving off as he was detained, on October 9, 2021.

"He was left holding the baby which in this case was a trolley loaded with £368 worth of goods," said Mr Tindall.

"He was detained without issue and all the goods were recovered."

Angela Grabowska, in mitigation, said her client had no previous convictions and had worked for most of his two years in the UK.

"On the day of his arrest, after he failed to turn up at court on the first occasion, he was going for and induction day at an abattoir," said Miss Grabowska.