A 19-year-old Blackburn man thought his luck had changed when he found five lottery scratch tickets in the street, a court was told.
But Lee Wilcox was arrested by police investigating a post office burglary in which a quantity of scratch cards had been stolen.
Wilcox, of Morecambe Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft by finding of five lottery scratch cards belonging to Highercroft PO, Manxman Road.
He was made subject to a conditional discharge for 18 months and ordered to pay £40 costs.
John Wood, prosecuting, said the burglary took place on September 17.
On the 18th police executed a search warrant at the defendant's home.
The cards were found and they had Wilcox's fingerprints on them.
Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Wilcox found the cards close to the post office and he decided to takethem home.
"He is honest enough to admit that if there had been any winners he would have cashed them in," said Mr Taylor.
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