Vicar told police of his son's crimes

Frederick David Hallett, 20, of Bosburn Drive, Mellor, pleaded guilty to theft of the credit card and using it to obtain goods or services worth £40 from the Windmill, Mellor.

He also pleaded guilty to stealing a cheque book and guarantee card belonging to Mark Stanway and four offences of using it to obtain property by deception.

Hallett, who is unemployed and asked for four other matters to be taken into consideration, was sentenced to 75 hours community service and 18 months probation by Blackburn magistrates.

He must also pay £108 costs.

His father, the Rev Peter Hallett, reported his son to the police for the offence on September 16 last year, while he was on bail for similar matters committed in the Midlands, the court was told.

Rev Hallett is deputy director of education for Blackburn Diocese.

Emma Keogh, prosecuting, said Hallett had stolen a cheque book and card from his flatmate while staying in the Midlands. He had cashed various cheques before coming back to Blackburn, where he repeated the deception.

Hallett had been arrested and released on police bail when he broke into a filing cabinet at his father's home and stole the credit card.

Stephen Parker, defending, said his client had a gambling problem and was addicted to gaming and fruit machines, running up debts of £3,000.

He said: "Mr Hallett comes from a good family, he has received a good education and it is a tragedy that he finds himself in this position.

"His one downfall is his addiction to gambling and, in particular, gaming machines.

"It is a problem he realises needs to be controlled and the shock of just coming to court has had a dramatic effect on him in itself."

On agreement from his father, he was ordered to live at the family home until he found alternative accommodation acceptable to the probation service.

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