A MURDERED man's brother committed crime and took a drug overdose under the pressure of his personal problems.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Anthony Leecy had been killed in April and since then Darren David Vincent Leecy's life had been in turmoil.

Leecy, 30, of the Salvation Army hostel, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to receiving a pair of spectacles worth £119 which had been stolen from Specsavers and attempting to obtain £10 from Maxideals by deception.

Leecy was remanded on bail until August 20 after the magistrates ordered the preparation of pre sentence reports.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said Leecy told police he had bought the spectacles for £7.50 from a town centre "wino."

He took them to Maxideals but the manager became suspicious and called the police.

Debbie Jameson, defending, said the drugs overdose came at a time when everything was getting on top of Leecy.

He and his pregnant girlfriend had split up and it was only four months since his brother was killed.

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