A £70-a-day heroin addict trashed his mother's home and pawned her belongings after she went on holiday and left him looking after the property.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Paul Barnsley, 30, left her a note apologising and said he would send her the cash to get her goods back.

Barnsley, then staying at the property in Florence Avenue, Burnley, and now of Montserrat Road, Bolton, admitted theft and was bailed until April 18 for assessment for drug rehabilitation. Elizabeth Reed, prosecuting, said the defendant's mother returned to find electrical equipment to the tune of more than £1,300 missing and a note from her son saying he was sorry.

Drawers had been rooted through and nobody else had keys to the property apart from Barnsley, his uncle and a neighbour. There was no forced entry.

Richard Taylor, defending, said the offence had very unpleasant elements not least the breach of trust.