A SHOPKEEPER turned detective when money went missing from his store — by posting a CCTV picture of the thief on Facebook.

Anthony Taaffe went into Bargain Booze in Halliwell Road on January 29 at about 9pm before slipping into a store room where he helped himself to an envelope containing £2,200 cash from manager Krishan Patel's jacket.

Bolton Crown Court heard the defendant then approached Mr Patel and asked him if he wanted to buy a bottle of whisky. Mr Patel declined and Taaffe left the store.

Suspicious of his behaviour, Mr Patel checked the store's CCTV footage — then checked his jacket and realised his money had been stolen.

Prosecutor Tim Greenald said that Mr Patel then "did his own detective work" by posting the images on Facebook.

Mr Greenald said: "Someone anonymously informed Mr Patel of his name and police confirmed it was him."

When interviewed he admitted it was him on the footage but claimed he had gone into the store room because he was "disorientated". He later admitted the theft.

Andrew Scott, defending, said that Taaffe had a 35-year history of drug taking despite suffering with epilepsy.

The court heard that if he did not quit his addiction "he would die".

Mr Scott added: "For the first time in a long while he is relying only on prescribed medication and support from his aunty."

Jobless Taaffe, aged 49, of Chorley Old Road, admitted theft. He was given a nine-month sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also given a 12-month supervision order, a three-month drug rehabilitation requirement and a three-month curfew between 8pm and 7am.

The money was never recovered but the court Taaffe "probably spent it on drugs".

Sentencing Judge Peter Davies said: "You have an atrocious record and should be ashamed of yourself, but also grateful that your aunty is willing to take the risk of supporting you.

"You spend other people's money on drugs and alcohol. Shops like that cannot afford to lose that money. It is a lot of money to them.

"Mr Patel is the real victim here. He is not going to get that money back – you are not going to pay it back, you have no money.

"Opportunistic crime like this has real victims and real hurt."