A MAN distracted an assistant in a late-night pharmacy so he could steal a mosque charity collection box.

Blackburn magistrates heard Arshad Hussain immediately regretted what he had done and considered returning to the shop.

Hussain, 39, of Clement Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to theft of a charity box.

He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said an assistant in the Accrington Late Night Pharmacy viewed CCTV footage after being told a charity box was missing.

The footage showed Hussain enter the shop, in Blackburn Road, at 5pm and distract a member of staff.

He then used a pair of scissors to cut the cord securing the charity box before leaving the store.

Mrs Mann said the charity box belonged to a local mosque.

“Everyone who put money in the box was helping a good cause and in a way they are all victims of this crime,” said Mrs Mann.

“They put their money in the box and the defendant stole it.”

Waseem Choudhary, defending, said as soon as he left the shop his client had second thoughts.

“He thought about going back into the store and telling them what he had done which he immediately regretted,” said Mr Choudhary.

“He didn’t take the scissors into the shop, they were for sale in the shop, and he says the theft was not premeditated.”