POLICE responding to a burglar alarm mounted a containment operation after realising the culprit was still inside the premises.

Blackburn magistrates heard the officers saw ladder on the roof and a hole in the slates on the roof of Thrifty's in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle.

They found Mark Walsh inside the store with a bottle of spirits in his hand and when they went to arrest him he coughed on the officers and claimed he had coronavirus.

Walsh, 51, of Water Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal and two charges of assaulting an emergency worker. He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months with a six months alcohol treatment requirement and 10 days rehabilitation activity requirement. He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to each of the police officers and £100 compensation to the shop owner.

Gilian Kennaugh, prosecuting, said the offences were committed in April.

In a victim impact statement a female police who was one of those coughed on said when she developed Covid symptoms shortly after the incident she had to self-isolate.

This impacted on her elderly parents, who were shielding, and were reliant on her and the rest of her family.

"This clearly caused great concern to the officer," said Ms Kennaugh.

Gareth Price, defending, said the last burglary offence on his client's record had been in 2008.

"He has been on bail for eight months and there has been no suggestion of any further offending," said Mr Price.

He said Walsh had tested negative for Covid-19 shortly before the incident.

"He did not have Covid-19 and the officer did not contract it but that does not detract from the worry and inconvenience the officer was put to," said Mr Price.