A BLACKBURN pub boss has admitted stealing £2,400 and a pool table from his town centre hostelry.

A court heard how Mark Riley came up with a string of excuses for why weekly takings had not been banked.

But eventually Riley, who ran the Exchange, Town Hall Street, ran out of reasons and his bosses called in the police who discovered that £2,400 and a pool table were missing.

Riley, 30, of Pasturelands Drive, Billington, pleaded guilty at Blackburn Magistrates Court to two charges of theft from his employer, Allied Logistics, owners of the Exchange pub.

He was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 100 hours community punishment and pay £600 compensation.

Neil White, prosecuting, said that in August the company secretary, who checked bank accounts on-line, noticed weekly takings had not been paid in for the Exchange. Riley was contacted and was adamant he had paid the money in.

The following day he rang and said he had mistakenly paid into the wrong account. A few days later the cash was paid into the correct account.

The next week's takings were not paid in on the Monday and this time Riley said he didn't have time because he had to go to the doctors. The money was eventually paid in the following Saturday.

"When the takings were not paid in for the third consecutive week he said the cash had been either lost or stolen in Blackburn town centre," said Mr White.

Robin Phoenix, defending, said there was mention in the pre-sentence report of his client being a victim of blackmail.

"It is often the case that people involved in this kind of offence have their backs up against the wall," said Mr Phoenix.

He said that since the offences in August Riley had got another job and his employer was aware of the proceedings against him.