A MAN who emptied the shelves of chocolate bars in a bargain store had sold the items to a corner shop within two hours.

Blackburn magistrates heard Gary Kevin Ward and an accomplice raided the Poundland shop in Accrington on consecutive days, emptying the confectionary into a rucksack.

Ward, 31, of Lion Street, Church, admitted two charges of theft. He was fined £160 and ordered to pay £200 compensation.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said a supervisor in Poundland was told they were “being cleared out” but when she went to investigate found empty shelves where the chocolate bars should have been.

“CCTV showed two men emptying the contents of the shelves into a rucksack exactly as they had done the day before,” said Miss Allan.

“Police identified the defendant but by the time they went and found him, two hours later, he had sold the items. He confirmed he had used the money to buy drugs.”

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Ward had been struggling with his finances at the time. He knows that if he carries on like this he will be looking at custody.”