A NOVELTY gnome helped trap a man who burgled a Darwen address and stole a large amount of property.

The gnome was listed among stolen items when police officers had their morning briefing.

It rang a bell with one officer who had visited Sean Thompson's home the day before - and made a note of the one such gnome he spotted on the premises.

Preston Crown Court heard it led to a large amount of Clifford Taylor's stolen property being recovered.

Thompson, 22, of Kay Street, Darwen, was appearing for sentence on a charge of burglary he had admitted. He asked for three other offences to be considered.

Properties around the victim's home in Hannah Street were being demolished, the court was told. The victim returned home to discover a kitchen window had been smashed and each room had been ransacked, said Duncan Birrell, prosecuting.

A large amount of property had been taken including the gnome which was in a box and had been acquired from Australia.

That same day, a police officer went to the defendant's home on an unrelated matter and saw the gnome.

Mr Birrell said: "Next day, at the morning briefing, the officer was told a burglary had taken place and a list of property stolen was described, including the novelty gnome.

"He remembered it from the day before and that is how the defendant came to be arrested."

Richard Hunt, defending, said: "The defendant never realised the property was still, in effect, being occupied."

The case was adjourned to next month for a possible trial of issue over whether Thompson knew the home was occupied.