STALLHOLDERS arriving for work at Blackburn three-day market found Michael Phearse McCann asleep in a corner.
Blackburn magistrates heard that he had a small amount of change and two cigarette lighters on him which had been stolen from a stall.
McCann, 27, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to theft and was remanded on bail until October 18 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.
A condition of bail is that he lives at a bail hostel in Liverpool and does not enter Blackburn.
Kevin Preston, defending, said McCann had a drink problem and had been drinking all day before going to the market, where his sister worked.
"He has little recollection of how he ended up on the market but he assumes he fell asleep in a quiet corner, woke, stole the property then fell asleep again," said Mr Preston.
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