A THIEF preyed on a 75-year-old grandmother who invited him into her home.

Blackburn magistrates heard how Mark Anthony Barnes took keys from her handbag and used them to open a cash box in the woman's bedroom.

And after taking £60 he took a bank card as he replaced the keys in the woman's bag.

Sentencing Barnes to a total of nine months in prison, stipendiary magistrate Jonathon Finestein described the offence as "mean."

The court heard that the victim was the grandmother of Barnes' girlfriend.

"You were a guest in this lady's house and this is a clear breach of trust," said Mr Finestein." You abused her kindness and this was a very mean offence indeed.

"I bear in mind that this lady has apparently forgiven you but this offence is far too serious to impose anything other than a prison sentence." Barnes, 22, of Carlinghurst Road, Blackburn, had pleaded guilty to theft of the cash and card and attempting to obtain property by deception.

He also pleaded guilty to handling a stolen credit card on a different occasion and using it to obtain property.

Kevin Preston, defending, said Barnes' girlfriend was only 16 years old and the couple have a four-month-old baby.

"The grandmother and her mother were both very upset but have since written to him in Preston Prison offering forgiveness and understanding," said Mr Preston.

" They are trying to give this couple every assistance that they can. He is only a young man himself and the two of them have a long hard road in front of them."

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