AN unemployed man who supplemented his benefits by collecting scrap was caught by a community support officer throwing a copper cylinder out of the upstairs window of a boarded-up house.

Blackburn magistrates heard Stephen Trevor Preece had used a section of wooden fencing as a make-shift ladder to climb into the property on the Twogates estate, Darwen, which was awaiting demolition.

Preece, 29, of Burnley Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of property worth £230.

He was remanded on bail until November 19 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report after the magistrates heard he was subject to prison licence for a sentence imposed for burglary.

Neil White, prosecuting, said the support officer called for back-up and Preece was seen carrying it back to his car.

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said the cylinder had been valued at £230 but its scrap value was more like £20.

"When the houses are demolished the copper piping and cylinders will no doubt be salvage and reclamation and that is effectively what my client was doing," said Mr Blacklidge.

"He is in the habit of collecting scrap and weighing it in to supplement his income."