A CHEEKY thief sneaked his way into a crown court judge's private chambers and stole his £2,000 laptop computer, a court heard.

Andrew Purvis was spotted carrying the equipment in a black bag as he left along the adjacent private corridor but it was only after he had vanished that the theft came to light.

Jailing 20-year-old Purvis, who admitted a string of other sneak thefts, Judge Denis Clark pointed out that the computer theft highlighted the need for extra vigilance at public buildings.

"It is a timely reminder to all of us of the need for heightened security in public buildings, including courts of law, at any time, but particularly following the cataclysmic events in America."

Purvis, of Reed Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to four burglary offences and had four other burglaries taken into consideration and was sentenced to 27 months detention.

Robert Osman, prosecuting, said that Purvis stole the laptop computer belonging to the Lord Chancellor and some Encyclopaedia Britannica CD roms from the chambers of Judge Raymond Bennet at Burnley Crown Court on May 18.

When he was arrested on May 31 he admitted stealing the computer and said he had sold it for £70. The other burglaries, all in Burnley, included the private upstairs quarters of Yates Wine Lodge while the relief manager, Peter Grundy, was asleep on the settee about 9.15pm.

Mr Grundy became aware of someone in the room by hearing breathing behind him and looked round in time to see Purvis leaving the room. He caught him rifling jacket pockets at the bottom of the stairs but after searching him and finding nothing, let him go.

However, he later discovered his wallet missing and when he spotted Purvis at a nearby fast food restaurant alerted police who arrested him. Mr Osman said that the other burglaries committed by Purvis included the Queen Victoria pub, a training centre in Elizabeth Street, the Labour Party club, the Oak Hotel, Sparrowhawk Hotel and a video shop.

Defence barrister Jeffrey Clarke said that one of the root causes of Purvis' offending was his heroin addiction, though he has been struggling to put his life on a responsible footing.