A CREDIT card scam was uncovered when furniture delivery men were asked to leave an expensive settee outside when it would not fit in the flat to which it was sent

Blackburn magistrates heard that John James Booth, the occupier of the flat, had been employed by others to accept delivery of the items, which had been purchased fraudulently.

Booth, 29, of Redearth Road, Darwen, pleaded guilty to two offences of handling stolen goods and asked for two similar offences to be taken into consideration.

He was made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 12 months and ordered to pay £200 of the £1,000 compensation claimed.

Mike Cunningham, prosecuting, said someone had used a credit card to order settees from Winchester Furniture. They arranged for delivery to an address where Booth was waiting to accept the goods.

"He was caught because a settee that should have been delivered into the flat would not fit and the firm were suspicious at being asked to leave it in the garden," said Mr Cunningham.

Richard Prew, defending, said two of the four settees involved had been recovered. "There is nothing to suggest he was involved in setting up this matter," said Mr Prew.

"He was hired to be the recipient and he was not going to get much out of this."