Burnley magistrates heard how Norman "Knuckles" Jones took the £216 haul, including steaks, from the town's Tesco, for a wake after the death of 27-year-old Luke Smith, who was found hanged in Yorkshire Street on July 20th.

Jones (58), who has a long criminal record, admitted theft.

The defendant, of Williams Road, Burnley, was given a three-month curfew between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., but it was lifted on Saturday, so the convicted soccer thug could take his children to the Sheffield Wednesday match. He must also pay £75 costs.

A district judge told Jones if he had wanted to give Mr Smith a good send-off, items from the shelves at Tesco had to be paid for.

Mr Richard Taylor (defending) said Jones had recently been diagnosed with angina. He had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and the property was recovered. The solicitor added: "He is getting too old for this kind of thing and he knows it."