POLICE who went to arrest a prolific offender for one offence found other items he had stolen from cars.

Blackburn magistrates heard all the cars targeted by Bernard Rawstron had been damaged and as well as the loss of property the owners had the inconvenience and expense of having their vehicles repaired.

Rawstron, 44, of Leach Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to stealing £170 cash and bank cards from a car belonging to Muhammed Turk, theft of a dashcam and cash worth £180 belonging to Andrew Webber, theft of a £120 sat nav belonging to Yusuf Bhamjee and theft of a laptop and external hard drive worth £320 belonging to Alan Miller.

He was jailed for 24 weeks and ordered to pay £180 compensation to Mr Webber and £170 compensation to Mr Turk.

Sentencing him District Judge James Clarke said Rawstron had been given community orders and prison sentences in the past for offences of a similar nature.

“It would seem the community orders are not working and the prison sentences have not been long enough,” he added.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said while the offences were essentially low level thefts they caused considerable upset and inconvenience while people were left without their vehicles while they are repaired.

She said Rawstron had been released early from his last prison sentence and was still on licence.

Catherine Fell, defending, said her client was realistic and knew he was going to be jailed.