A MAN broke into 17 businesses stealing £42,000 worth of property -- and causing £22,000 worth of damage -- to help his girlfriend flee from Pakistan, a court was told.

Patrick Roach fell in love with Fizza Khan but her parents went beserk when they found out she was seeing him.

And when she became pregnant her mother lured her into going to Pakistan, claiming her father had suffered a heart attack.

Once there, she discovered her father was fine but she claimed she was drugged and an abortion was carried out. Roach ran up huge mobile phone bills keeping in touch with her.

He also tried to pay for lawyers to try and get her out of Pakistan and when he could not pay he turned to crime.

Roach, aged 20, of Stout Street, Leigh, admitted four charges of burglary and asked for 13 others to be taken into consideration.

But a judge took pity on the couple and decided against jailing Roach, sentencing him instead to a two year Community Rehabilitation Order coupled with a 100 hour Community Punishment Order. Judge Ian Hamilton said he had experience in the Family Court of the problems faced by Asian children sent to Pakistan by their families who did not approve of relationships they had formed.

Prosecutor Ann Hughes said that Roach burgled businesses in Leigh, including Woolworths store twice.

He also broke into Turnpike House in Leigh where the Adult Education offices were located.

At Woolworths he broke in through a skylight on the first occasion and unbolted security bars. He also later burgled Clinton Cards.

Fingerprints were found at the scene and when he was arrested Roach admitted to four burglaries and asked for 13 to be taken into consideration.

Police said the property stolen totalled £42,000 and the total cost of the damage caused was £22,000. Only £900 worth of stolen goods have been recovered.

Defending, Philip Martin said that Roach had managed to keep in touch with Fizza by mobile phone and tried to pay for lawyers to get her out of Pakistan.