A 21-YEAR-OLD drug addict who "specialised" in stealing mobile phones to fund his habit was caught out by the latest camera phone technology.

Blackburn magistrates heard that an assistant had demonstrated state-of-the-art gadgetry by taking Tahir Hussain's picture with a handset.

And despite being shown his 'mugshot' on the display screen, Hussain picked up another mobile and ran out of the shop without paying.

"The shop assistant was left literally holding a phone with the defendant's picture on it and it was very easy for the police to identify him," said Basharat Ditta, defending.

"It is offences like that and also stealing phones from people who knew him that show his desperation at the time."

Hussain, of St James Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to four charges of theft involving mobile phones and two involving mobile phone top up cards.

He was sentenced to a total of 14 weeks in prison, which will extend by five weeks the 11-month jail sentence imposed by Burnley Crown Court he is serving.

Mr Ditta added the offences were so blatant that it was inevitable Hussain would get caught. They were committed at a time when he had an addiction and nothing else mattered," said Mr Ditta.