SNEAK-THIEF John Stephen Slater owned up to a theft at the Salvation Army Hostel in Blackburn, almost 18 months after the offence.

Blackburn magistrates were told that his fingerprints had been found on the window of a room at the hostel, from which a radio cassette player had been stolen.

But Kevin Preston, defending, said Slater deserved full credit for his admission because at the time of the offence he was living at the hostel and the fingerprint evidence could easily have been explained.

Slater, 21, of Cherry Tree Lodge, Islington, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary and was ordered to pay £100 compensation and £20 costs.