POLICE investigating a theft from a phone box found a carrier bag containing £346 in loose change in a car stopped in Blackburn.

And when they arrested Scott Reeves he admitted the theft and said it had been him and his girlfriend and had nothing to do with his mum, who was driving the car.

Reeves, 25, and Gabrielle Porter, 27, both of Reece Park, Burscough, pleaded guilty to theft of cash and a cash box belonging to British Telecom. Reeves also admitted going equipped for theft with a cordless drill. They were both made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 18 months and ordered to pay £100 compensation each.

Margaret Duckworth, prosecuting, said the phone box was on the corner of Whalley Old Road and St Stevens Avenue and, according to BT, £97 had been taken from that box.

She said Reeves was convicted in April of a similar offence committed in Manchester.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said both his clients were heroin and cocaine users and both appreciated that their liberty was at risk.

He said the couple have two children and had at last realised that to be good parents they had to beat their addiction.

"They both want to be helped and have already sought the help of the community drugs team," said Mr Taylor.

"Their last two tests have proved negative for illegal drugs and, hopefully, they can continue the progress they have made so far."