A VERGER chased a homeless drug addict who smashed open a collection box at Blackburn Cathedral and stole its contents.

Alex Barnes ran into the town centre to catch 31-year-old Mark Milner and grabbed him – but he was threatened with a needle.

Yesterday, Milner was jailed for the ‘despicable’ act which his defence solicitor called ‘morally repugnant’.

The Very Rev Christopher Armstrong, Dean of the Cathedral, said it was a “very sad” case, but it was “heartwarming” Milner had been quickly handed to police by fellow homeless people, who were disgusted by his actions.

Prosecutor Catherine Allan told Blackburn Magistrates Court that Milner took a rock to the glass box on Sunday afternoon before stealing the money inside it.

She said he entered the Cathedral at 1pm, around the same time as food parcels were being given to homeless people from across the town.

Head verger Mark Pickering, 33, said: “Two chaps came in and at first we thought they wanted a parcel, but they didn’t approach us.

“They were looking around and we were suspicious, but we didn’t say anything. One of the other homeless people tipped us off to be on our guard.

“We were in another part of the church when all of a sudden there was a big bang, and we saw the man hitting the box with a stone. He put his hand in and took a £20 note out.”

The two vergers ran after Milner, and Mr Barnes, 28, managed to catch up to him by the steps near to the Alan Rene hair salon in Church Street.

The court heard that when Mr Barnes grabbed Milner’s coat, he pulled a needle from his pocket said: “I’ll stick it in you, I’ll stab you with it if you don’t let me go.’”

Mr Barnes said: “It was just instinct to chase after him, I didn’t think about how scary it was until afterwards.

“When he pulled the needle out I knew it was time to let go.

“As he ran away down the steps he looked back at me to make sure I wasn’t coming after him.”

Police traced Milner on CCTV running into The Mall in Blackburn town centre, where he swapped a £20 note at the Holland and Barrett shop, but he was not arrested that day.

On Monday, the Cathedral received a telephone call from residents of a homeless hostel in Bolton Road, Blackburn, to say Milner was staying there.

Mr Pickering said: “They said they’d heard what had happened and they were disgusted - they’d given him quite a hard time.

“They didn’t approve of anyone who takes from the church. I didn’t realise that they thought so highly of the church.”

Milner, who has 16 previous convictions, had been living on the streets for three weeks prior to the incident.

He had been released from Forest Bank prison in December, following a conviction for possession of drugs.

Defending, Aftab Bakaht said: “It is distasteful and morally repugnant. He had no right to do what he has done, which was selfish and downright disgraceful.

“He had been released from prison in December and was left homeless, without a prescription for methadone.

“For three weeks he was on the street trying to sort out his benefits, but lapsed into stealing.”

Dean Armstrong said it was only the second time in seven years the collection box had been stolen from.

He said: “The fact that he was found so quickly is a tribute to community values. The Cathedral and other places of worship are still regarded as special by the community.

“They continue to have an increasing role in today’s financially challenging times, and I applaud that when churches and faith are often mocked and sidelined.”

Milner was sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment for theft and four weeks for criminal damage.

For common assault, he was sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment.

All sentences will run concurrently, totalling 20 weeks.

No order was made to recoup the stolen money.