A MAN burgled a friend's house after returning to collect keys he had left the previous evening.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Mark Alexander Dalziel found a window open and stole a video recorder and other items belonging to Lyn Egan.

Dalziel, 19, of Skye Crescent, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary and possession of cannabis.

He was put on probation for 12 months with a condition he attends the alcohol and substance related offending programme.

Mike Cunningham, prosecuting, said Dalziel had been drinking with Miss Egan and had accompanied her back to her bungalow.

The next day a neighbour saw two youths climbing over a fence carrying a number of items.

Dalziel was arrested and the cannabis was found in his pocket.

Roger Pickles, defending, said that Dalziel had a very serious alcohol problem.

"Miss Egan is a friend of his father and she is a lady who enjoys a drink," said Mr Pickles.

"They had a perfectly normal evening and when he left there were no problems. At some stage his keys fell out of his pocket and he returned the next day to recover them."

Mr Pickles said there was no answer and Dalziel went through an open window, initially with the intention of looking for his keys and nothing else. "The aggrieved has been in touch since and she does not bear any grudges," he added.