A man who fled from a compound when police arrived was tracked down by a police dog and found hiding in undergrowth.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Joseph Phillips and another man had been caught on CCTV looking in the back of trailer units.

Phillips, 52, of Mitre Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to attempted theft from Sprtz Ltd, based in Bridgewater Close, Hapton.

The magistrates decided not to activate a suspended prison sentence Phillips had previously been handed, but extended the period of its operation by six months.

Phillips was also made subject to a community order for 12 months with a 28 day curfew between 7pm and 7am, and a six months drug rehabilitation requirement. He was ordered to pay £85 costs.

Graeme Tindall, prosecuting, said a CCTV monitoring company alerted police at 3.50am that two men were breaking into the back of articulated lorry trailers in the compound.

“They left as the police arrived but Phillips was tracked down by a police dog,” said Mr Tindall.

He said Phillips had 116 convictions on his record for 318 offences and was in breach of a suspended prison sentence imposed for possessing a bladed instrument.

David Lawson, in mitigation, said his client’s record was “unenviable to say the least.”

“During his last custodial sentence he suffered a stroke,” said Mr Lawson.

“Since his release he has found accommodation with the Mitre Project and is also engaging with other agencies.

"He admits that in recent weeks he has relapsed into heroin use.”

The chair of the magistrates said they were not activating the suspended sentence order because Phillips had been working well with the probation service.