A PUB and shop raider who flouted a court order has been jailed for six months.

Burnley magistrates heard how troubled drunkard Christopher Daniel Sparks, 20, left his fingerprints "all over the place," after breaking into the Market Hotel, Bacup, and forcing the back off a fruit machine.

He was given an intensive community penalty but about seven weeks later got into Woolworths and helped himself to mobile phone Sim cards from the stock room.

Sparks, said to have undergone an "horrific" few months after the death of his mother, admitted failing to comply with a community rehabilitation and punishment order imposed for burglary and a burglary charge.

Sentencing, the bench told the defendant, of Tong Lane, Bacup, his actions had not been premeditated and had been unsophisticated.

They added he had a "quite serious drink problem," and had not responded to sentences imposed on him in the past.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, told the court about £200 in cash was taken from the gaming machine.

Bill Rawstron, defending, said Sparks now had a settled address available to him. After the death of his mother, Sparks had lost his home, his ability to sign on for benefits and had lost all hope.

He had had no money, no accommodation, had been living from friend to friend and had offended to get money

He had now had a change in his circumstances.

The Intensive Control and Change Programme - part of the community penalty - had not had chance to start to work.