WHEN the prospect of a job failed to materialise a Blackburn man found himself stranded and penniless in Rochdale so he decided he would try to fund his way home by stealing from a local supermarket, a court was told.

Geoffrey Holmes, 36, of Arran Avenue, Shadsworth, Blackburn, was before the magistrates at Rochdale admitting the theft of three bottles of whisky worth £50 belonging to Tesco.

The bench was told Holmes had a previous record and had last year been released from a five-year sentence for conspiracy to rob but he had been out of trouble since.

Holmes described his act as a "stupid one-off."

The magistrates agreed but after hearing his mitigation decided to fine him just £50 with £55 court costs to pay.

Mr Michael Church-Taylor, prosecuting, said Holmes had gone into Tesco's and shoved the bottles of whisky down his trousers.

Holmes "wandered off" out and was detailed "without any problems." He said he hoped to sell the whisky to get money to return to Blackburn.

Holmes said he had gone to Rochdale on the promise of a job. The man who had arranged to meet him to provide him with cash-in-hand employment failed to turn up. Holmes was left stranded and without any money. He admitted he had "reverted to type" but it had been a one-off act of desperation and he did not run away but waited patiently for the police.