A QUICK-THINKING policeman had his finger on the pulse when a doctor's surgery was burgled.

PC David Dunn made an arrest within an hour of being called to Accrington's Peel House medical centre.

The incident happened while Glenn Bowers, 24, of Stanley Street, Accrington, was on bail awaiting sentence at Burnley Crown Court after stealing from his mother. Earlier this month he was sent to prison for 16 months after admitting charges of burglary and possessing cannabis.

Yesterday he was before Hyndburn magistrates facing a charge of theft relating to the incident at the medical centre.

David Macro, prosecuting, told the court Bowers had gone to the surgery with his son, who had an appointment.

When one of the doctors left a consultancy room Bowers entered and stole two mobile phones and a purse containing £22 in cash, bank cards and a driving licence, he said. "He went in and stole the property and then left the scene without his son having seen a doctor."

Bowers sold most of the items but threw the cards and licence down a grid, but later showed police where he had disposed of the licence enabling them to retrieve it, he said.

Bernard Horne, defending, said: "He really was in quite a poor state when this offence was committed. It is his determination that when he's released he will not return to his previous offending behaviour."

PC Dunn said: "It was quite serious in that he had the opportunity to go into the doctor's surgery while the doctor was out.

"I had a look at the appointment system and noticed the name of his son. I have known Bowers previously so we went round and he made admissions and we arrested him for burglary. It was about an hour in total from going to the job to arresting him."

Bowers was sentenced to 14 days in prison to run concurrent with his existing sentence.