A man trying car doors in Colne town centre was spotted by an off-duty police officer enjoying a pint in a nearby pub.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the officer detained Aymen Saouli until uniformed colleagues arrived and arrested him.

Saouli, 25, of Hartley Street, Colne, pleaded guilty to vehicle interference.

He was sentenced to six weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, with a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 150 hours unpaid work.

Julia Draper, prosecuting, said the officer was in a pub in Market Street just after 11pm.

He looked out and saw the defendant stumbling around trying car door handles.

The court heard Saouli had applied for asylum and was not allowed to work.

He was not a habitual drinker but on the night of the offence had drunk too much.

It was not the first time Saouli has been in court for vehicle interference, having received a community order and 100 hours of unpaid work after admitting three offences in Barrow-in-Furness at court in November 2023, for offences committed in August when he was living in the Cumbrian town.