AN EX-CONVICT helped himself to £1,000 cash meant for funeral expenses and blew every penny of it, a court was told.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Duane Marcel Pickles Murphy, 24, pinched the cash from his new girlfriend's mother on New Year's Day. The money had been hidden away in a cupboard and was meant to pay for a funeral after the death of an aunt.

The court heard another relative had paid for the arrangements.

Murphy, who has 64 previous convictions for dishonesty, was given a 12 month community rehabilitation order, to include the Dordrecht initiative -- but was warned there would be trouble if he breached it.

The defendant, of Spring Street, Nelson, admitted theft on January 1 and was told to pay £1,000 compensation.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said last December 30, Murphy's partner's mother checked the money was in the cupboard. The key to it was kept behind a vase in the house and the defendant knew the cash was in the property.

On January 2, she noticed the £1,000 was missing. The day before, the defendant had been at the house, had rowed with the victim's daughter and had been left alone in a room.

Mrs White said because of the theft another relative had to pay for the aunt's funeral.

Murphy had been known to the courts since 1992 and last went to prison in June 2001.

Bridgette Hibbert, defending, said the offence was cruel and nasty. Murphy had been tempted to take the money after the argument because he thought his relationship with his girlfriend was over.

He had blown the money and spent every last penny. On realising how wrong his actions were he had contacted his solicitors to tell them what he had done and then gone to the police.

Miss Hibbert said Murphy had made every effort to put things right. There had been no evidence he had taken the money and had he not confessed, he could not have ben brought before the court. His girlfriend's family had agreed he could pay back the money in instalments.

The defendant had tried to get away from the merry go round of offending and taking drugs.