A MENTAL health charge nurse turned to shoplifting after the financial pressures of having three "families" became too much when he was off work with depression.

Blackburn magistrates heard that while he was working, David Cowans could maintain the delicate balance of paying two lots of maintenance and providing for his current partner and their baby.

But a three month period off sick upset the balance and left him desperate. Cowans, 39, and Timothy Raynor, 31, both of Fore Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to stealing five bottles of spirits from Tesco.

Raynor, who was in breach of a deferred sentence, was remanded on bailed to June 19 for pre-sentence reports.

Cowans was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £30 costs.

Wendy Chappell, prosecuting, said Cowans had placed the bottles in his basket before going to another part of the store where they were transferred to a rucksack being carried by Raynor.

Roger Pickles, defending, said Cowans had been off work suffering from depression and his current partner and mother of his eight-month-old child had suffered very severe post-natal depression.

"When he stopped working the maintenance orders kept running and it has caused enormous problems. He has returned to work now and the Child Support Agency took £500 from his last wage of £1,000."