SIMON Pattison thought it was his lucky day when he was offered a mobile home that a fellow customer had left behind at an Ely garage. But when the phone s rightful owner returned to claim his property, it was clear that Pattison had lied to garage staff

SIMON Pattison thought it was his lucky day when he was offered a mobile phone that a fellow customer had left behind at an Ely garage.

But when the phone's rightful owner returned to claim his property, it was clear that Pattison had lied to garage staff when he claimed ownership and pocketed the �100 mobile.

"You were not lucky at all, you have ended up here," Pattison was told by presiding magistrate Hamish Ross at Ely courthouse on Thursday.

"What you did was unacceptable, it was a blatant lie, that telephone was not yours, and you knew that."

Pattison, 25, of The Barns, Littleport, admitted stealing the mobile phone from Kenneth Seymour on August 3. He also admitted driving without insurance or a licence.

"When Mr Seymour went to pay for food at the BP garage in Witchford Road, Ely, he put his telephone on the counter and forgot to pick it up," explained prosecutor Laura Mardell.

"Pattison and another male came in to pay for petrol; a cashier followed them out and asked if they owned the phone. Pattison took it and then drove away."

CCTV footage was used to get details of Pattison's vehicle, and he was later traced and arrested.

Representing himself in court, Pattison said: "I should not have done it, I thought I got lucky that day, I didn't really think about it."

Pattison was given a 12-month conditional discharge for the theft. He was banned from driving for six months and fined �100 with �60 costs and a �15 surcharge.