A 40-YEAR-OLD man betrayed the trust of an old friend and stole a ring worth £500.

Blackburn magistrates heard Lee Campbell pawned the sovereign ring to buy food and alcohol.

But police were able to recover it from the pawn brokers who were left £422 out of pocket.

Campbell, of Shear Brow, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of a ring belonging to John Kirby.

He was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 60 hours unpaid work and pay £422 compensation, £115 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

He was made subject to a restraining order for 12 months which prohibits him from having any contact with Mr Kirby.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Mr Kirby was 74-years-old and lived alone.

He knew Campbell because he had once gone out with his daughter and had remained in touch.

On March 18 Campbell turned up at his address and asked for £5.

"Mr Kirby felt obliged to give him some money to get him to leave but the defendant then said he needed to go to the toilet," said Miss Allan.

Miss Allan said Mr Kirby then heard Campbell in his bedroom and found him looking through drawers.

Later in the day he realised a jewellery box had been forced and the golf signet ring was missing.

Colleen Dickinson-Jones, defending. said there was no suggestion Campbell had 'conned' his way into the property.

"He has known the victim for a number of years and used to be a frequent visitor," said Mrs Dickinson-Jones.

"He was invited in but what happened after that was not acceptable.

He recognises that he has destroyed his friendship with Mr Kirby."