A 26-year-old man from Leigh accused of burglary fled from a police station after being charged, a court heard.

Sean Bourke was quickly re-captured but the burglary charge was later dropped and he instead ended up at Liverpool Crown Court for the escape offence.

After hearing that Bourke has psychiatric problems a judge placed him on probation for 18 months.

Andrew Downie, prosecuting, told the court last Friday (11)that Bourke was arrested on October 15 last year for allegedly breaking into a newsagents shop in

Leigh and stealing the contents of the till and was taken to Leigh police station.

The next day after being interviewed he was formally charged with the burglary and he bolted towards the exit.

Officers chased him and he was detained on the steps of the police station and placed in a cell.

The court heard that Bourke, of Devon Street, has previous convictions, including burglary and assault.

Miss Sharon Amesu, defending, said that Bourke had been under the care of a doctor since September, regularly saw the mental health team and was taking his medication.

"He was changed significantly in his personality and attitude to life," she said.