A WOMAN who stole £60 from a man's trousers as he slept wanted cash to buy heroin, a court heard.

Rebecca Oxley, 32, helped herself to the money after the retired victim, with whom she sometimes stayed, left his trousers at the foot of the bed.

He dozed off but awoke to find the defendant taking something out of his pocket.

Oxley, now said to be pregnant and on a methadone reducing programme, admitted theft last June. The defendant, of Cross Bank Street, Padiham, was given a 12 month conditional discharge and must pay £60 compensation and £75 costs.

The court was told Oxley, who had 58 previous convictions, had been given a conditional caution for the offence, but had not attended the drugs services appointment the police made for her.

Bill Maude, prosecuting, told the court the victim and defendant had been to a pub and the victim had got £60 from a cash machine.

Oxley was arrested after being found stealing and told police she had only wanted to take £20 but could not untangle the notes. She had wanted to buy heroin. The defendant claimed she had been off drugs for 18 months, but someone else had got her back on heroin.

Richard Taylor, defending, said Oxley's last conviction had led to prison but she had been free for two years.