A DARWEN hairdressing company was put in jeopardy after burglars took a large quantity of equipment and caused damage, Preston Crown Court was told.

But Wright Team International based on Railway Road managed to pull through and overcome the effects of the raid.

One of the burglars, 20-year-old Lee Biggs was caught by police after a "DNA hit" from blood he left at the scene.

Biggs, of Meadowgate, Darwen, and a 17-year-old youth, also from Darwen, were placed on probation for 18 months for the burglary.

Biggs asked for three other offences to be considered and the youth another 10 burglaries involving commercial premises or garages.

He also admitted breach of an attendance centre order and two conditional discharges.

Keith Harrison, prosecuting, said the burglary took place on August 28 last year - a bank holiday.

On September 1, it was discovered that metal shutters had been forced and an alarm box ripped off. A fire extinguisher had also been sprayed in the warehouse and items worth £10,000 stolen.

The interruption to the business meant a loss of £4,000 and damage to the value of several hundreds of pounds was caused.

Mr Harrison said the two defendants had pleaded guilty on the basis that they had taken a computer and printer.

Roger Baldwin, defending, said the pair had spent five months in custody - the equivalent of a 10-month sentence.

The 17-year-old, who had an offer of accommodation and work from his uncle, had offended to raise money for general living.

The defendants were not responsible for the loss of equipment that put the company in jeopardy.

The burglary had opened the way in for others.

Both men had admitted other matters which would have been otherwise unsolved.

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