TWO unemployed men were tempted when they say a handbag on the seat of an unattended car.

Blackburn magistrates heard Francis John Duffy and David Harwood then used a contactless debit card taken from the bag in two stores.

Duffy, 41, and Harwood, 49, both of Bolton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of a handbag and a Pandora bracelet to a value of £165 and fraudulent use of a bank card.

Duffy was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement and a curfew between 7 pm and 7 am for eight weeks. He was ordered to pay £82.50 compensation, £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Harwood was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a nine months drug rehabilitation requirement and 10 days rehabilitation activity requirement. He was fined £50 and ordered to pay £82.50 compensation, £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the car owner had parked up while she popped into a shop.

"In the short time she was away her bag was stolen and her card then used in two different shops," said Miss Allan. "Both the defendants were identified from CCTV footage."

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Mark Williams, defending Duffy, said his client had an extensive record but had been out of trouble since 2017 when he had a serious accident.

Richard Prew, for Harwood, said there was no planning involved.

"They were walking past when they saw the bag on the seat and took it," said Mr Prew.