A MAN was jailed for stealing £130 from his mother's friend.

Michael Gallagher, aged 25, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to taking a purse from the woman when he called at her home trying to sell her some CDs.

Magistrates in Bolton sentenced him to three months in prison.

The victim let Gallagher into her house because she had known him for many years, but told him she was not interested in buying.

Bill Donnelly, prosecuting, said: "He left the house but later she went to find her purse and it had gone.

"She put two and two together and went around to her friend's house. Her son was not in at the time, but a purse was found stuffed down one of the chairs in her house."

The court was told Gallagher's problem stemmed from his heroin addiction, which at times was costing him £20-a-day.

The bench was told he had already spent three months in custody.