A 28-year-old Blackburn man who racked up a series of thefts within weeks of being released from prison has been sent back to jail for six months.

Blackburn magistrates heard Paul Brown tried to wheel a TV and DVD player out of ASDA and was chased from Home-base, Preston, while pushing a lawnmower.

And he told the court that on the day he appeared before Preston magistrates he believed he had taken 100 blue Valium tablets.

"I can't confirm the numbers but I can confirm that when I saw him he was blue in the mouth and it was quite distressing," said Roger Pickles, defending.

Brown, of Scotland Bank Terrace, pleaded guilty to stealing a TV and DVD from ASDA, vehicle interference, theft from a Spar shop, burglary at Lancashire United bus depot and theft of £270 and stealing a lawnmower.

Mr Pickles said that Brown had only been released from prison on February 3 but had told police he needed to go back to jail to sort himself out.

"He hopes that this time he can come out of prison and make a fresh start," said Mr Pickles.