A PROLIFIC thief battling leukaemia from Padiham – who has more than 155 offences on his criminal record – has been shown mercy by a crown court judge as he battles leukaemia.

In his latest brush with the law, Brendan Ormonde, 44, had sold on an iPad worth £500, just hours after a break-in at the home of an 85-year-old man, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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Judith McCullough, prosecuting, said that a third party had innocently purchased the device. It was recovered electronic device was recovered from the home of a third party, who had been innocently sold the iPad, so it could be and returned to the pensioner in good working order.

Ormonde, who admitted handling stolen goods, had 59 convictions for 155 offences.

He had only been given a suspended 12-month prison sentence nine days before handling the stolen i-Pad, the court heard.

Michael Jones, defending, said his client had low immunity levels, due to being treated for leukaemia. the defendant had discharged himself from hospital, against medical advice, at 6.30am to attend court. If he retained his liberty he had an outpatient appointment at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, as part of his ongoing treatment.

Ormonde, of Burnley Road, was given a two-month suspended prison sentence, consecutive to his original 12-month term after Judge Michael Leeming QC ruled there were ‘special circumstances’.