A THIEF has been jailed after a court heard he had more than 40 previous convictions for stealing.

Burnley Magistrates were told how Brian Joseph Barnes, 39, was spotted in Burnley Woolworths putting a Monopoly game under his jacket.

When police interviewed him, he said he had gone into the store to steal, had no money on him at the time and was going to sell it.

Barnes, of Ardwick Street, Burnley, was sent to prison for two months, after admitting stealing from shop premises.

He was also in breach of a conditional discharge imposed for abstracting electricity.

Bench chairman Bernard Rothwell told the defendant he was a regular offender, committing offences while subject to the conditional discharge and seemed to be permanently unemployed.

He added Barnes also had an on-going drug habit and needed money to fund his addiction.

The defendant was refused bail pending an appeal against sentence to Burnley Crown Court and sobbed in the dock as he was led away to start his term of custody.

Richard Taylor, defending, said Barnes had been introduced to heroin by a girlfriend four years ago, had become addicted and would continue to commit further offences if he carried on using it.

Barnes lived quite a pathetic life.

He had a difficult upbringing, suffered from low self esteem and was defeated by life's difficulties.

The defendant was quite confident he could try and cut down his use of drugs.