A JURY was discharged after it failed to decide whether a couple had made a bogus insurance claim relating to a burglary.

But Sharon Thorne, aged 34, was found guilty of false accounting in relation to making an Income Support claim.

Both she and her husband, John, 39, of Rutland Street, Leigh had also been charged with obtaining money by deception, but despite several hours deliberation the jury could not agree a verdict.

Following the discharge of the jury a new hearing will take place on Friday

so the Crown Prosecution Service can consider its position.

During a trial which lasted throughout last week, the jury at Bolton Crown Court had earlier heard that John Thorne admitted lying to police when he was questioned about thousands of pounds worth of property being taken during a burglary at his home.

Thorne claimed he had retrieved some of the stolen goods through contacts with criminals he knew. Thorne said he would not have told the police about getting his property back but said his wife was going to inform the insurance company.

But he admitted the insurance company were only told after police had raided his house and found property identical to that he claimed had been stolen. The couple denied attempting to obtain money by deception and Sharon Thorne had also denied false accounting in respect of an Income Support application.

The Thornes claimed a large amount of property had been taken during the burglary, including a quad bike, a £3,800 48-inch TV, a computer, a stereo system, a speaker, stationery and a printer.

But when police searched her mother's home they discovered a quad bike in the garage and at their home they found a 48-inch television, computer parts and a stereo identical to the goods they claimed had been stolen.

Police investigating the alleged fraudulent insurance claim also found more than £22,000 in cash when they searched the couple's house.

Thorne said he had helped people and businesses to retrieve property that had been stolen through his contacts with people 'on the other side of the law.'