A fairground worker who pocketed a phone left on the bumper cars was traced through a tracking app on the phone.

Blackburn Magistrates’ Court heard how when police confronted Paul Cook at his home he handed over three phones which he had “found” while working at the fair when it was in Blackburn.

Cook, 19, of Heywood House, Oldham, pleaded guilty to theft by finding of an iPhone 12 belonging to Jordan Graham, and failing to surrender to bail.

He was fined £160 by magistrates and ordered to also pay £85 costs and a £64 victim surcharge.

Jackie Partington, prosecuting, said Mr Graham contacted the police after tracking his phone to an address in Woodlea Road, Blackburn, where Cook was staying at the time.

Mr Graham had been at the fair on April 17 when he lost his phone, worth £500, while riding the bumper cars.

Police attended the address and Cook at first denied any involvement.

“He eventually handed over three iPhones, one of them belonging to Mr Gordon, and admitted finding them all while he was working at the fair,” said Miss Partington.

Cook, who was not represented, said he had found the phones and it had just been a bad mistake to keep them.