A THIEF with 24 previous convictions for dishonesty - including stealing from his employer - landed a job in a bank.

Blackburn magistrates heard that the HSBC, in Church Street, also did not know, until after he had been caught with his "hand in the till", that Steven Caddens' last conviction had been for theft from his employer.

And defence solicitor Andrew Church-Taylor said it could properly be asked what inquiries were made about his client's background before he was employed .

"He is not trying to shift the blame but had those inquiries been made then temptation would not have been put in my client's way," added Mr Church-Taylor. Caddens, 37, of Sandon Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to theft of cash from the HSBC and asked for three similar offences to be taken into consideration.

He also admitted failing to comply with a community punishment order imposed in September 2000 for theft from employer.

The order was revoked and Caddens was made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 12 months and ordered to do 100 hours community punishment.

The magistrates made no order for compensation.

Phillipa White, prosecuting, said that on February 3, the branch manager, a Mr Woodhead, became aware that the tills were short by £1,680.

He got the chief cashier to check the tills that night and again the following day. He discovered a £120 shortfall.

The same checks were made on subsequent nights and further discrepancies discovered.

On February 9. Mr Woodhead made sure he was the last member of staff to leave work and then met his area manager.

The two men re-entered the bank and Caddens was present.

They questioned him about some bags of coins on the floor behind the counter and Caddens said he had found them behind a bin.

A cabinet, which had contained the keys to the tills, had been opened and the managers noticed that one till was open and the key still in it.

"When Caddens was challenged for a second time, he ran off," said Mrs White.

When interviewed Caddens said he had found the key to the cabinet "innocently" but had then decided to use it.

Mr Church-Taylor said the total sum involved in the charge and matters to be taken into consideration was a little over £500.

He said Caddens had found the key to the key cabinet and had foolishly kept hold of it rather than hand it in.

Mr Church-Taylor said Caddens was an intelligent man but, because of his previous convictions, had not been able to achieve his full potential.