A BURGLAR who took part in a raid on a Pendle college in which computers worth almost £3,000 were taken has kept his freedom.

Burnley magistrates heard Daniel Matthews, 32, helped himself to a couple of laptops and sold his share of the haul for £1,200.

Jobless Matthews, of Lily Lane, Manchester, admitted burglary at Pendle Vale College, Oxford Road, between August 29 and 30 2006.

He was given a 12-month comm-unity order, with 100 hours unpaid work and must pay £250 compensation to the school.

Neil Cronin, defending, said that since the offence his client had "gone straight" and "tried to get his life back on track".