A MAN who stole to raise money to pay the bills after his partner was sent to prison has joined her behind bars.

Blackburn magistrates heard Anthony Herdman was caught stealing meat from Lidl in Colne which put him in breach of a criminal behaviour order.

Herdman, 28, of Newfield Drive, Nelson, pleaded guilty to theft of meat worth £42 and breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order by entering Lidl. He was jailed for nine weeks.

Peter Kelly, prosecuting, said the Criminal Behaviour Order prohibited Herdman from entering stores on the North Valley Retail park. He was seen trying to leave Lidl without paying for various meat products, challenged and detained.

Mark Wiliams, defending, said the theft was very much at the bottom of the scale.

"There was no confrontation or attempt to get away," said Mr Williams.

"He was having to pay all the bills after his girlfriend was sent to prison and he was struggling. It was a deliberate act in terms of the theft but he didn't realise Lidl was included in the Criminal Behaviour Order."