A 23-YEAR-OLD man who burgled a takeaway at 5am and then claimed he was on his way to the gym has been jailed.

Recorder Michael Blakely, sitting at Preston Crown Court, heard Matthew Luke Carrie climbed into Hardeeze takeaway on Copy Nook, Blackburn, after making a hole in the roof.

Carrie helped himself to £100 from the till and a charity box and its contents.

He then escaped back through the hole in the roof.

Staff, who watched CCTV footage of the burglary, saw Carrie peering into the shop wearing a distinctive Liverpool football shirt, the court heard.

Carrie, of Barn Gill Close, Blackburn, admitted burglary.

The burglary took place on July 27, this year.

Recorder Blakely sentenced Carrie yesterday to a year and two months in jail.

Carrie had been recalled to prison after the burglary because it broke conditions of his prison licence.

He had been out on prison licence after after being released early from jail for another offence.

Carrie who now has to complete his earlier sentence as well as the latest sentence has been in prison since the incident.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said the offence was not pre-meditated.

“He was making his way to a 24-hour gym when he just happened to look inside the shop,” said Mr Church-Taylor.

A spokesman for Hardeeze takeaway said: “It is great news he has been sentenced. I am glad he got sent to prison, that is what he deserved. Hopefully he will learn from this and won’t do it again.”