A BEAUTY parlour burglar caught the eye of a passing police officer because he was carrying a safe.

Blackburn magistrates heard that David Howie threw the safe at the officer, hitting him in the chest, before trying to escape, but was arrested after a brief struggle.

Howie, 37, of Brodick Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary at Elle Bees and theft of a safe and cash together worth £655 and assaulting PC David Mullin with the safe. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said Howie had been spotted kicking out a door panel of the shop in Town Hall Street and CCTV cameras were trained on the scene.

"He was clearly seen crawling out of the shop carrying the safe and as he walked away was approached by the officer," said Miss Worsley. "He then threw the safe at the officer hitting him in the chest."

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said it was a moment of madness on his client's part who had been drinking in the town centre.