A THIEF who sneaked into a neighbouring shop through the loft escaped jail and was told he was a lucky man.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Timothy Slade, 23, helped himself to drink, cigarettes and cash.

The defendant, of Cleaver Street, Colne, admitted burglary allegations and abstracting electricity.

The court was told the shopkeeper, on Walton Street, Colne, sacked his staff after stock went missing and they fell under suspicion.

Slade was given 120 hours community punishment by the bench who said what he had done was very serious and he was fortunate not to be going to custody. He must pay £368.72 compensation and £65 costs.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said the defendant used to live in a house two doors down from the lock-up shop.

The owner noticed a lot of stock going missing, suspected his staff and sacked all of them.

Towards the end of February, he noticed bricks had been removed from the loft, allowing access from where Slade was staying. Police were called.

Slade admitted he and another person had climbed in to the corner shop through the roof.