AN 80-YEAR-OLD man had his wallet, containing £1,060, stolen by a fellow drinker in an Accrington town centre pub.

Blackburn magistrates heard William Johnstone was chased out of the Last Orders pub by a member of staff, and handed back £250 when she confronted him.

He later told police he had been drinking heavily for several days, and said it must have been “some kind of joke”.

Johnstone, 44, of Hood Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to theft of a wallet belonging to Harold Bickerstaffe. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, with a warning that all options, including a custodial sentence, would be open to the sentencing bench.

Peter Wild, prosecuting, said Mr Bickerstaffe was a regular in the Blackburn Road pub, and always sat in the same place. On the day of the incident Johnstone was seen leaning over the victim, who then shouted; “He’s had me off.”

A member of staff, who followed Johnstone out of the pub, saw him throw something into the bushes, before she confronted him and said she was going to call the police. He asked her not to, and eventually handed her £250. She recovered the wallet from the bushes.

Graeme Parkinson, defending, said Johnstone was “thoroughly ashamed” of his behaviour.