A POLICE inspector today defended two of his officers who failed to find a burglar hiding in drawers under a bed at the scene of the crime.

Insp Ian McCann said Scott Mullen, 26, of Gordon Street, Blackburn, was well-concealed in the drawers of the devan bed under piles of sheets.

He added that he was sure the officers had conducted the search diligently, but could not say he was happy as Mullen had not been found.

Homeowner Steven Smith, of Shorrock Lane, Mill Hill, found Mullen in the drawers as he was clearing away after the officers had left.

He restrained Mullen until the officers, who had gone to search the nearby area for any sign of the burglar, returned.

Mullen pleaded guilty to burglary at Blackburn Magistrates Court following the incident on Christmas Day and has been sent to Preston Crown Court for sentencing.

Insp McCann said he was planning to visit Mr Smith to see if he wanted to make a formal complaint about the incident. He added: "The officers had taken 20 minutes to search the house. The burglar hid himself, not under the bed in a big gap, but in the drawer devan.

"They reached the conclusion that someone has been in the house, but they believed he had made off prior to them arriving.

"They then went to do a further search of the surrounding area. In that time, Mr Smith heard noises coming from the bedroom while he was tidying up and found the burglar. It is difficult for me because they didn't find him, so how can I be happy?

"Policing is a tricky job and we would hope that every time we do something it is 100 per cent right. At this stage there is nothing to indicate that the officers did not do anything other than their best.

"It is difficult to say it is one of those things because someone has found a burglar under the bed - that would seem like we were trying to make light of it. I know the officers will be concerned about it."

He added that police in the town had done a lot of work to crackdown on burglars.