A MAN who had “lost his way in life” at the age of 60 burgled his own daughter’s home and stole her bank cards.

Blackburn magistrates heard the daughter heard a noise from downstairs in the early hours of the morning but thought it was the family cat knocking something over.

The following morning she discovered two glass door panels in the door had been smashed and her handbag was missing.

Barry Preston, 60, of Fairfield Avenue, Waterfoot, pleaded guilty to burglary and fraudulent use of a bank card.

He also pleaded guilty to 10 charges of shoplifting from the Co-op in Rawtenstall, theft by finding of a bank card and fraudulent use of the card and two charges of theft from Marks and Spencer.

He was sent in custody to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced on March 7.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Preston’s daughter heard a noise at 1.35am but thought it was just the cat knocking something over.

“When she discovered the theft she also discovered one of her cards had been used within 40 minutes,” said Mrs Yates. “Officers checked CCTV from where it was used and were able to identify the defendant.”

Mrs Yates said the owner of the other stolen cards discovered three transactions had been carried out before she was able to cancel the card.

“She went to one of the shops where her card had been used and asked to see the CCTV,” said Mrs Yates.

“It showed a male who she had seen hanging around her area and the shopkeeper was able to give her his name.”

Richard Prew, defending, said his client was lightly convicted until the last 12 months when he had “gone completely off the rails.”

He has had benefit problems and has been stealing to buy food,” said Mr Prew.

“He says he has not got a drink or drug problem and it is sad that he has lost his way in life at the age of 60.”