A PROLIFIC offender was caught stealing condoms from a chemists within 24 hours of him being released from prison.

Blackburn magistrates heard while he was on bail for that offence Moazam Ali stole designer handbags to order after being offered a fraction of their value as a reward.

Ali, 32, of Leyland Road, Burnley, pleaded guilty to stealing condoms worth £1 from Superdrug and four charges of stealing Michael Kors handbags with a total value of £750 from TK Maxx. He was jailed for 18 weeks.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Ali was jailed on August 27 for shop theft and was released on October 2.

"The following day he was caught trying to remove boxes of condoms from Superdrug," said Mrs Yates.

"He was charged and bailed and then stole the handbags on October 6 and 9 before being caught in the act on October 16. Only one of the five £150 bags was recovered."

Mrs Yates said when he was interviewed Ali said he was offered money to steal the bags by a woman called Teresa. She said she would give him about £70 for stealing the bags.

Richard Prew, defending, said his client had been released from prison with very little money and an underlying alcohol problem he didn't seem to want to address.

"Within 24 hours he was stealing again and then stole to order," said Mr Prew.

"There is little I can say for him."