A CHURCHGOER took a "charitable" view when a thief helped himself to her handbag from the vestry.

Burnley magistrates heard how Terence Swallow's victim would have given him money had she known his circumstances and would have also offered him a job.

Swallow, 25, of Glen Street, Colne, but formerly of Darwen, admitted three counts of burglary and asked for seven offences to be considered.

He was committed to Burnley Crown Court for sentence.

Mike Travers, prosecuting, said the number of burglaries had gone up in Colne since the defendant moved there from Darwen.

Swallow struck at a house being decorated on Glen Street, took a handbag from Holy Trinity Church, Colne, and helped himself to £320 worth of camping equipment from a shed. Gill Lloyd, defending, said Swallow knew custody was inevitable. The house burglary came about after the defendant moved back to Colne and saw the property as providing him with a place to sleep. He got in by removing a window, no other damage was caused and he went only once.

Swallow had been at the church service, attended by the owner of the handbag. He took it from the vestry, as an "opportunist" theft.

Miss Lloyd said had the victim known of Swallow's circumstances, she would have given him money and also would have given him a job. Miss Lloyd went on: "She was concerned for him and took a charitable view."

Five of the seven offences to be considered were burglaries, after Swallow had gone out with police and pointed out the properties involved.

The two thefts involved bags which Swallow intended to sell on.

Miss Lloyd added the defendant had moved back to Colne because his mother was seriously ill with cancer and had been in Burnley General Hospital three months.

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