A ‘CHEEKY’ thief who cashed in winning betting slips after he found a lost wallet is being hunted by police in Accrington.

The wallet’s owner had reported it missing to police on September 20 after he lost it while he had been drinking in the town centre.

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The three bets had earned him winnings of £350, but the money was collected by a different man at two William Hill bookmakers the following morning.

CCTV images of a man police want to speak to in connection with the incident have now been released.

PC Jason Manning, said: “It’s just cheeky really. They may not realise it is theft because they have found the wallet in a public place, but as soon as someone picks up the wallet and doesn’t put it back or hand it in, an offence has been committed.”

The betting slips were cashed in at stores in Accrington Road, Blackburn, and High Street, Rishton on September 21.

A Lancashire police spokesman added: “The victim had lost his wallet whilst out drinking in Accrington town centre on September 20 and inside the wallet were three betting slips with William Hill bookmakers which were all winners totalling £350.

“I urge anyone who recognises the man in the red polo shirt or the man himself to get in touch with police on 101.”