A BLACKBURN man has been convicted of stealing over £26,000 from the post office where he worked.

Riyaz Patel claimed that he took the rap in order to save the family-run business and told the jury he made an admission to the crime only because it was thought his father would lose his financial outlay on the premises near Preston.

Patel, 26, of Inkerman Street, Blackburn, denied 29 counts of theft over a six-month period in 2000 while his brother Shafiq was sub postmaster of Cop Lane Post Office, Penwortham, Preston. The business has since been sold.

He was found guilty on all charges at Preston Crown court and Judge Brian Duckworth remanded him on bail until he is sentenced on June 21.

The prosecution alleged there was a consistent and deliberate pattern of abusing the system, with inflated figures recorded on the numbers of benefits or allowance vouchers received there.

Patel told police he had spent £1,000 a week at a bingo hall and also visited the casino.