A mean thief pinched his mother's cheque book and drew out £4,000 of her cash from a building society, a court heard.

Burnley magistrates heard how former drug addict Mark Bowers (30) was currently serving two years nine months in prison after being convicted of wounding and affray. It took police 'a while to catch up with him', but when they did, he owned up to what he had done.

Bowers, then living with his mother in Woodlands Avenue, Edenfield, admitted theft, three charges of dishonestly obtaining money from the Halifax Buiding Society in Bury by deception and asked for 14 offences to be considered. He was given an eight-month prison sentence, concurrent with his present term.

Carl Gaffney, prosecuting, told the court Bowers had been staying with his mother and intercepted her post. Sarah Goodchild, defending, said Bowers had had a drug addiction at the time and had been desperate. Since he had been in custody, the defendant had been on the drug-free wing. Miss Goodchild added Bowers was now in contact with his mother. They were on speaking terms and there was some hope of reconciliation.