A DRUG user who took refuge in old people's sheltered accommodation helped himself to ornamental plant pots while he was there.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Stuart Douglas Parry, 29, suffered from social phobia and thought people were looking at him and thinking there was something wrong with him.

Parry, who was confronted and held down on the ground by one of the residents until the police arrived, was granted a 12-months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £65 costs.

The defendant, of Wordsworth Road, Colne, admitted theft. An allegation of burglary was withdrawn.

Christiana Buchanan, prosecuting, said the defendant was seen in the communal area of Church Meadows, Colne, carrying an ornamental plant pot.

When challenged by a resident said he had bought the plant pot.

The occupant tried to detain Parry, but he struggled free from his shirt and ran away.

Minutes later he was back asking for his keys and the resident held him on the ground until police arrived.

The defendant, who later admitted he had stolen some pots, said he had taken six valium tablets.

Mark Irlam, defending, said Parry had been taking drugs since he was 14. At one stage he had ben injecting heroin but over the last 18 months had managed to sort himself out.

He was now taking methadone but also had diazepam. That had had a marked effect on his offending behaviour and he had not been in trouble for 11 months before the offence.

Mr Irlam said the defendant suffered from social phobia and found it difficult to go out in public. He thought people were looking at him and thinking there was something wrong with him.

He had gone into Colne town centre and had a panic attack. He usually went to Church Meadows when that happened and would just sit there.

Parry admitted there had been an altercation with the resident and that he ran away and then went back. The case had now been hanging over him for five months.