POLICE investigating a Sunday afternoon burglary at a Blackburn hair salon found the till from the shop in the basement of a nearby house.

Blackburn magistrates heard Stuart William Riddell, who lived close to the shop, admitted handling the till and a bag of other property which was also stolen but denied being involved in the burglary.

Riddell, 46, of Redlam, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property. He was made subject to a curfew between 9 pm and 6 am for 16 weeks, fined £40 and ordered to pay £150 costs and £85 victim surcharge. A charge of burglary at The Hair Gallery, Redlam, was withdrawn.

Ann Deakin, prosecuting, said police were alerted by a member of the public to a burglary taking place at the Hair Gallery. The witness had seen two men running from the rear of the premises.

"A short time later the police attended the defendant's home address and asked him to open the door which led to the cellar," said Mrs Deakin. "They went down and found the till and a bin bag containing other items which had been stolen from the shop."

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said someone had come to his client's address and asked him to look after some items.

"He asked no questions and placed the items in the cellar," said Mr Taylor. "He was pressured but he should have known better."