AN Accrington man who took £950 of property from a car was later seen in a telephone box checking to see if any of the credit cards among the stolen haul had been blocked by the banks, a court was told.

Paul Marsden was arrested but the case only came before Rochdale magistrates 16 months later.

Marsden, a 42-year-old factory worker, of Hopwood Street, admitted theft of a mobile phone, car stereo system and credit cards .

The court was told that there was no explanation why the case had taken so long to come to court following Marsden's arrest but Marsden himself, who had 140 previous convictions, had dramatically changed his life style.

The former heroin addict had settled down, was due to marry a woman whose children now regarded him as father, and had a job.

Kay Raywood, prosecuting, said Marsden was later seen use a brick to smash the driver's door window, and run off with property taken from the vehicle.

Some of the property was sold for heroin but Marsden retained the credit cards and was later seen by police in a town centre telephone kiosk with another male. It was believed the defendant was was checking with banks whether the stolen credit cards had been blocked.

Marsden was given a conditional discharge for 24 months and ordered to pay £950 compensation and £45 court costs.