STAFF at a Blackburn chemists shop were kept in the rear room by a man holding the door shut while another walked in and helped himself to toiletries.

But Blackburn magistrates heard a security officer employed by Moss Chemists was parked outside their Accrington Road shop and witnessed the whole incident.

After a short chase and a struggle he detained the man who had removed the property.

Paul Lee Hargreaves, 28, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft and was fined £50 with £50 costs.

Wendy Chappell, prosecuting, said the security officer saw the two men loitering outside the shop before one of them went in and handed in a prescription.

When the assistant went through to the back he closed the door behind her and at that stage Hargreaves pulled up his hood and entered the shop.

"He removed several items from a shelf and then walked out," said Mrs Chappell.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said his client denied any knowledge of the other person who entered the shop with the prescription.

"He may have seized the opportunity but that was coincidental rather than pre-planned," said Mr Church-Taylor.