A thief who climbed into a dog kennel and stole a pitbull - saying he wanted to set it free - has been jailed.

Daniel Bullock, 25, of Charles Close, Workington, pleaded guilty to stealing the dog from Whinmill Farm Kennels on July 12.

He was jailed for 10 weeks for the offences and ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.

The magistrates' court in Workington heard Bullock climbed over a barbed wire fence at the dog home and later swapped the stolen pitbull for a jacket.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said the defendant told police he wanted to set the dog free from the kennels and the recipient of the animal had received it in “good faith”.

Bullock also admitted stealing detergent and a fizzy drink from a Whitehaven Spar store on August 17, making off from a taxi in Lowca without payment on October 4 and possessing amphetamine in Whitehaven on October 6.

John Cooper, defending, said his client admitted all the offences after being arrested as he wanted help for his drug use.