AN EPILEPTIC who had his wallet stolen while he was suffering a fit in the street today slammed the sentence given to the thief.

Barry Alan Slater pleaded guilty to Blackburn magistrates of taking a wallet, credit card, and cash from James Taylor as he lay unconscious on the pavement yards from his home.

The court heard how Slater was forced out of his home as a result of publicity surrounding the case.

And defence solicitor Graham Parkinson said his client had been beaten up on more than one occasion as a result of the incident back in April.

Today, Slater's sentence of 18 month community service and £155 compensation --the amount taken from the wallet -- was slammed by the victim and his mother.

The National Society of Epilepsy also condemned the crime.

Speaking after the case at his Fawcett Close home, in the Bank Top area of Blackburn, Mr Taylor, 42, said: "I think he should have got more.

"I've been having bad fits since and have been at work on and off.

"All I remember about it is this man coming over when I was having the fit and the next thing my wallet had gone."

His 64-year-old mother Margaret, added: "There is not much punishment in this. He has got more sympathy than Jimmy. I'm disappointed in this and so is Jimmy."

Margaret Thomas, from the National Society of Epilepsy slammed any crime against a vulnerable victim.

She said: "I cannot comment on the case because I was not present in court, but this kind of crime really is despicable.

"For someone to be abused and robbed like this while having a seizure is just appalling.

"Epilepsy is the most common serious brain disorder affecting 300,000 people in the UK.

"How would this thief feel if he was having a seizure and somebody did this to them.

"It is totally disgusting."

Slater, of Wellington Street, Accrington, was the subject of a pre-sentence report before yesterday's sentencing.

Magistrates could have sentenced him for up to six months in prison for the theft.

The court heard that Mr Taylor had been making his way home from Remploy, where he has worked for the past 24 years, when he suffered an epileptic fit and lost consciousness.

Two female witnesses saw Slater approach and take Mr Taylor's wallet from his pocket.

One of them saw him throw it in a bin, from where it was later recovered empty.

When Slater was approached by police he admitted being present but denied taking the wallet.

Mr Parkinson, defending, said Slater had initially gone to help Mr Taylor when he saw him lying on the floor.

He said: "He has not got away with this scot-free.

"He has had to move home and only this weekend, when he came over to Blackburn, was beaten up.

"It was not a premeditated offence, but he accepts that he succumbed to temptation.

"He is extremely sorry about his actions."