A MAN stole a bottle of Jack Daniels to swap with a man in a pub for cannabis to ease his depression.

Blackburn magistrates heard that since the offence, shortly before Christmas, Bradley Barclay had met his real mother for the first time and his life had taken on a new meaning.

Barclay, 25, of New Church Close, Blackburn, admitted shoplifting at Asda and was granted a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £40 costs.

Stephen Parker, defending, said Barclay's father died when he was 10 years old and he had spent much of his life in foster care. "Given that background, he has not got a bad record," said Mr Parker.

"Shortly before Christmas he was fed up and depressed about the way his life was going and the cannabis was meant to alleviate his depression." "In the last couple of weeks things have started to look up for him. He has met his mother for the first time and he is also making arrangements for contact with his own five year old child."

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