A HOUSEHOLDER set up his own CCTV system to catch the thief who was stealing his daily pinta from the doorstep.

Burnley magistrates heard householder David Kelly went to the trouble and expense of installing cameras at the front of his house.

Lee Maxwell Thomas, 27, was captured on film and was brought to book after he was in Padiham police station on another matter and an officer recognised and arrested him.

Thomas, of Alma Street, Padiham, who has no previous convictions, admitted four counts of theft and was given a 12-month conditional discharge with £65 costs.

Mr Kelly was awarded £2.46 compensation.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said Mr Kelly, who lived in Church Street, Padiham, had been having milk stolen from his front doorstep for several months.

After he installed CCTV cameras, more milk was stolen and the film was handed over to the police.

The defendant was later arrested after an officer recognised him.

Geoff Ireland, defending, said on April 17, Thomas was arrested and cautioned for shoplifting and the offences were committed before that.

That had come as a shock and knocked a lot of sense into him. Thomas had had money problems and gone completely off the rails.

Although Thomas was working, he had built up debts but his parents were now helping him to pay them off.

Mr Ireland said the defendant's appearance in court had brought considerable shame and embarrassment on him and it would not happen again.