A WAREHOUSEMAN at bed firm Silentnight who ripped up his neighbour’s back yard at midnight after a drinking session claimed he knew nothing about it, a court heard.

Burnley magistrates were told how Paul Thomas Ridehalgh, 49, was found by police at the back of his own house with flagstones from six doors down.

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He claimed when questioned he recalled his dog getting out and going to retrieve him and the next thing he knew he was in a police cell.

Ridehalgh was said by his solicitor to be “absolutely mortified” he had helped himself to neighbour Eileen Hirst’s flags in the incident in September 6.

The defendant, of Colne Lane, Colne, admitted theft by walk-in.

The bench imposed a £350 compensation order.

Prosecutor Andrew Robinson said the house the stone flags were taken from was empty and up for sale.

At about 12.30am, a near neighbour heard noise coming from the premises.

She called police and they found Ridehalgh in his own back yard with about eight stone flags with soil on them. A crowbar was also in the yard.

The defendant told police he had been quite drunk and had no memory of it taking place.

Rachel Garnett, for Ridehalgh, said he accepted, given the evidence, he must have committed the offence.

She said: “He feels awful that he has done this to a neighbour.”