ARGUING couple Leonard and Angela Vernon ended up in court after he blurted out their £5,000 insurance secret to police during a tiff.

Ex-Special Constable Angela Vernon, 36, and her now estranged businessman husband had received the pay-out from Eagle Star after a burglary.

But none of the cash was paid back after the missing property turned up.

The details came to light later when the couple had a tiff. Police were called to the matrimonial home in Whalley Road, Langho, and angry Leonard Vernon, 43, blurted out to an officer about the find to try and get his wife into trouble.

The Vernons, who are still married, although separated, were cleared of an allegation of obtaining property by deception by setting up the burglary, after a trial at Burnley Crown Court.

The court heard plans were now being drawn up to repay the money.

In January 1999, on the day of the defendants' daughter's birthday, their home was targeted by thieves.

Leonard Vernon, who later lost his job and got a £4,000 redundancy payment, told the jury an insurance claim was made and in March, a cheque for about £5,000 was received and put into his current account.

He said six months later, Angela Vernon, who had dealt with the claim, told him some of the stolen property had been returned and showed him a bin bag.

Vernon said he and his co-defendant later had a dispute, police were called to their home and it was made very clear that he would have to leave the premises.

He said he was packing things and was very upset.

He was talking to the police about Angela and where he was going to go, when he pointed out a painting hanging behind the dressing table and a clock which had been claimed for on the insurance.

Vernon went on: "I was being thrown out of my house. I was very angry with Angela and I said it because I thought I would get her into trouble.

"I was being vindictive. All the time going downstairs, I thought I had been stupid and told the police to ignore the remark."

Mrs Vernon, a youth justice worker, was arrested and her husband, who now runs his own business support company, told the court: "I just couldn't believe what was going on. I was stunned. I was absolutely amazed."

The defendant said he had not been totally surprised when she had entered the house with a bin bag of their property as she had recovered property before. She told him she had carried out investigations.

Vernon claimed at the time that there was not enough money in the bank to pay back Eagle Star what they thought the company would ask for and the £5,000 had gone on living expenses.

Asked by his barrister Amanda Johnson: "Were you in any way involved in setting up a fake burglary?"

Vernon replied: "No, not at all."

Angela Vernon, who phoned Eagle Star after she was interviewed by police, told the jury she and her husband had bought a picture for £200, but did not replace the clock.

She said she wanted the painting and clock which were returned and was concerned the insurance company would want to take them.

The defendant said she was "101 per cent willing" to pay back the money and still wanted to come to some arrangement.

She added she wished she had made the call earlier.

It had been alleged that between 5 January and 1 April 1999, the couple had dishonestly obtained from Zurich Financial Services jewellery to the value of £1,440 and £4.964 in cash, by falsely representing that household goods and personal effects had been stolen in a burglary.