SEAN Taylor stole a cheque from his grandmother's book and then made it out to himself for £250.

But the manager of a cheque-cashing shop became suspicious when Taylor, who he knew, told him the money was a birthday present.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Taylor was a member of the shop's cheque-cashing club and had previously given all his details to the manager, Nicholas Carr.

He checked his records, realised it was not Taylor's birthday and then rang his grandmother who said she had not written the cheque.

Taylor was told to come back the next day and when he did the police were called.

Taylor, 21, of Daisyfield Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to forging the cheque and attempting to obtain money by deception.

He was given a conditional discharge for 18 months and ordered to pay £118 costs.

Stephen Parker, defending, said the incident had caused a great deal of trouble within Taylor's family.

"It has alienated him from his parents and his grandma," said Mr Parker.

He said the offences had been committed spontaneously.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.