A MAN who stole stone flags was exposed by his little boy after lying to police, Burnley magistrates were told.

The court heard dad-of-four Andrew Michaeal Heaton, 32, of Ulster Street, Burnley, who was covered in dirt, told police he had stayed in all night and that his friend had borrowed his car.

But then his son told the officer: "My dad has just come home."

Heaton was also spotted with a van load of stolen household cleaners, worth £2,535, just days later but said he had sold the vehicle to a buyer who looked just like him.

The defendant, who has 11 previous convictions for theft and related offences, was given 120 hours community punishment by the bench and was told to pay £100 in compensation.

He admitted theft and handling stolen goods on February 18 and 29.