SEAN Flemming walked out of a student accommodation block carrying a stolen microwave and straight into the arms of a waiting policeman.

Blackburn magistrates heard that officers had seen Flemming acting suspiciously in the Preston New Road area and as they looked for him he emerged and put the oven in the black bin bag.

Flemming, 25, of Preston New Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft and asked for an offence of stealing a bike from outside Blackburn library to be taken into consideration. He was committed in custody for sentence at Preston Crown Court.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, said that when arrested Flemming blamed the offence on his heroin addiction.

Andrew Church-Taylor said Flemming had not needed to break into the accommodation because the door was open and there was no suggestion that he had entered any of the private locked bedrooms.

"He went into the communal kitchen and took the microwave oven and as he walked from the building he walked straight into the arms of a waiting police office," said Mr Church-Taylor.