A MAN spent the night stealing from cars then caught a taxi home, a court was told.

On the way, Thomas Baker shared the lift with two men who had been out burgling.

Shortly after the two men had left the taxi, police stopped the vehicle and found an empty wallet and keys from the burglary and arrested Baker.

Baker denied being involved in the burglary, saying the men had paid him £20 so they could share the taxi.

Yesterday Baker, aged 22, of Chaffinch Drive, Bury, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence for handling stolen goods.

He was sentenced to a community service order of 180 hours and 18 months probation.

Mark Ainsworth, prosecuting, said a Ramsbottom man discovered keys and a wallet with £180 had been stolen from his home during a break in.

After he was arrested, Baker told police he had gone out to break into cars but, after setting off an alarm, had gone home. He claimed he shared a taxi with two men who said they had been out burgling.

Nigel Rouse, defending, said:" It seems the men disposed of the wallet and the keys in the taxi."