A FORMER Accrington market stall holder used his inside knowledge to get into the basement storage area to steal computer equipment.

Blackburn magistrates heard William John McCann broke into a secure compound and store and stole computer equipment.

And on another occasion, he carried out a sneak theft from a medical centre, stealing a rucksack. McCann, 42, of Wellington Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary.

He was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, made subject to community supervision for 12 months with a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and ordered to pay £558 compensation.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said McCann was familiar with the layout of the market lock-ups because he was a former stall holder.

The owner of the computer equipment was on his way to his storage area when he saw McCann and recognised him as a former market trader.

Miss Allan: “He said hello to him but when he got to his lock-up he saw the door had been forced and stock taken.”