A MAN who smashed a £1,000 shop window with a drain cover told police he wanted to go back to prison.

Blackburn magistrates told Christian Carl Wheadon the offence, five days after he had been remanded on bail for a pre-sentence report, left them with no alternative but to grant his wish.

Wheadon, 34, of Pine Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to theft from a, vehicle, vehicle interference and criminal damage to a window belonging to Aldi. He was jailed for eight weeks and ordered to pay £500 compensation to William Strahan, the victim of the theft offence. The court was told as a result of the offences Wheadon was being recalled on prison licence until February.

Tess Kenyon, prosecuting, said the theft offence involved a musician who had played a gig at the Royal Dyche pub.

He put his equipment in his car at the end of the night and left the vehicle at the side of the pub. Overnight his car was broken into and all his gear, apart from a bass drum, stolen.

The following day he was at the pub trying to sort things out when he saw the defendant carrying some of his property into a taxi.

Mr Strahan confronted the defendant and there was a violent struggle before he managed to detain him until a passing police patrol was flagged down.

Wheadon appeared before Blackburn magistrates for that offence and was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Five days later he was seen trying the door of a car and later that night smashed the window at Aldi.

Mark Williams, defending, said when Wheadon committed the latest offences he was "in a bad place."

"He wanted to get arrested and go back to prison," said Mr Williams.

"He picked up a drain cover, threw it at the window and then waited for the police to arrive."

Imposing an immediate prison sentence the chairman of the magistrates said Wheadon had an appalling record and left them with no alternative but to send him into custody.