A THIEF who struck while on bail and the subject of community penalties has paid the price with four months in jail.

Burnley magistrates heard how Neil Rainford, 18, took DVDs, Eccles cakes and a mobile phone.

Rainford, of Every Street, Brierfield, admitted three counts of theft and failing to surrender.

Christiana Buchanan, prosecuting, said DVDs had regularly been going missing from a shop and the manager spoke to a second hand dealer, asking him to keep a look-out.

Rainford went into the second hand store and was later arrested.

John Nuttall, defending, said Rainford had had a difficult upbringing and could not read or write.

He had lived with his mother for some time but her boyfriend used to regularly beat both her and the defendant. His mother kicked the boyfriend out, Rainford lived harmoniously with his mother and then she took her boyfriend back.

Rainford left rather than continue to suffer violence.

Mr Nuttall said the defendant stole the mobile phone to feed himself after trying to get benefits.

He accepted he needed to sort out his life but found it very difficult to find any sort of employment.