A RAIDER who struck at a Burnley martial arts centre could end up behind bars, Burnley Magistrates told him.

Steven Bolgar, 27, helped himself to equipment to the tune of almost £600 after he had been given the security combination of the premises in Hammerton Street, the court was told.

Bolgar, of Dane Street, Burnley, admitted burglary and was bailed until July 2, for a pre-sentence report. The court heard the centre's owner left the premises secure and returned the same night to find a lot of equipment missing.

He checked each room of the gym and found that somebody had got into the club and that a metal cabinet was damaged.

Police were called, officers using a search warrant went to the defendant's home and found stolen items. Bolgar owned up to what he had done.

David Lawson, defending, said all the property had been recovered and the offence was an opportunistic one which Bolgar now bitterly regretted.

The defendant had been in Burnley town centre when a number of youths approached him and said they had discovered the security combination to the centre. Bolgar foolishly went in, looked around and took some equipment. He did not accept he was responsible for the damage to the cabinet. Mr Lawson added Bolgar had previous convictions, predominantly for dishonesty. Police had had no evidence he was responsible for the burglary.