A MAN who came across a blank cheque "missing" from Nelson health centre filled it in and cashed it to the tune of £1,500.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Peter Hamilton, 28, who was on benefits, thought it was his lucky day when he came across the cheque, said to have disappeared somewhere between the centre and its accountants.

Hamilton later claimed to police the money had arrived through the post and he had thought it was payment for an old job.

The defendant, of Brief Street, Burnley, admitted handling stolen goods, using an uninsured vehicle, having no insurance, no licence, no MOT and failing to surrender.

He was given 164 days in jail, suspended for two years, with a curfew, between 8pm and 7am, seven days a week.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said the blank signed cheque had been left in a cheque book at the health centre. It had been signed by a director in case of emergencies.

It came into Hamilton's possession and he made it payable to him in the sum of £1,500 and cashed it. The money had not been repaid.

Mr Robinson said it was not quite clear when the cheque went missing, but it was somewhere between the health centre and its accountants.

Nick Dearing, defending, said at the time of the offence Hamilton had not been in trouble for at least two years. He had always denied involvement in any theft from the health centre.

He said: "The defendant wrote his name on the cheque, put it into his own bank account and withdrew the money. He just thought it was his lucky day."

Mr Dearing said the defendant was not a drug addict or persistent offender. He just seemed to drift in and out of trouble.