TWO men used a crowbar to force entry to a Co-op store and used the same tool to try and get into the cigarette cabinet.

Blackburn magistrates heard on the end Adam Luke Barrass and his accomplice fled with bottles of spirits after setting off the alarm.

Barrass, 28, of Maple Drive, Oswaldtwistle, pleaded guilty to burglary at the Co-operative store on Whalley New Road, Wilpshire, and theft of Malibu and whiskey of a value unknown. He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £300 compensation and £128 victim surcharge.

Carl Gaffney, prosecuting, said the store shut at 10 pm and the alarm was activated at 11.30 pm. Barrass was traced from DNA in blood left at the scene but the other man had not been identified.

Mr Gaffney said the value of the property stolen was about £250 but extensive damage had been caused in the course of forcing entry to the building and trying to break in to the cigarette cabinet.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client said the other man had brought the crowbar.

"He waited outside while my client went inside and put himself at risk," said Mr Price.