A 24-YEAR-OLD Darwen man went off the rails after discovering that his 'mum and dad' had adopted him and being rejected by his real parents after tracking them down.

Blackburn magistrates heard that William Kelly had never been in trouble of any kind until last month and defence solicitor Sarah Perkins said that, hopefully, his offending was now behind him.

Kelly, of Police Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to attempting to steal two jars of coffee from Netto. He was fined £25 with £25 costs and the magistrates took no action over a conditional discharge imposed in May for shoplifting and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Miss Perkins said Kelly had not been aware the had been fostered until recently and had always thought his mum and dad were his real parents. "He made inquiries about his real parents and, rightly or wrongly, found them," said Miss Perkins.

"He now regrets ever doing it. He saw them on a number of occasions but he was not wanted and, at the same time, his foster parents were upset that he had taken those steps."

Miss Perkins said that, as a result, Kelly had been going through troubled times. He had given up his job and moved into hostel accommodation and for a number of months had been on the sick because of depression.

"He accepts that it is something he is going to have to deal with," said Miss Perkins. "Hopefully, he can get back on a good footing with his foster parents and things will settle down."