A LONELY and depressed thief helped himself to a pair of jeans after he had been drinking.

Burnley magistrates heard how Anthony Buchanan, 47, had started to drink after the deaths of his closest friend and dog.

Buchanan, who had cannabis on him, had a lengthy criminal record but his offending had been diminishing over the last few years.

Buchanan, of Holly Street, Nelson, was conditionally discharged for 12 months, after admitting theft and possessing cannabis.

Philip Turner, defending, said Buchanan had vowed to stay out of trouble, but since the loss of his friend and pet, he had lived alone and had little or no company. He had become lonely and depressed and started to drink.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.