A prolific criminal who became trapped in a pharmacy after taking a large amount of drugs called 999 for help.

Police were called by Scott McKay to Geloo Pharmacy in Blackburn at around 2am on Wednesday, April 15.

The 43-year-old had used a wooden plank to prise open the metal bars and once inside stole around 300 Diazepam tablets.

Paramedics and firefighters were called to the scene to help rescue and treat the 'extremely inebriated' defendant.

McKay, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Blackburn Magistrates Court to burglary.

He was jailed for a total of 26 weeks.

Posting about the incident on Facebook, Blackburn with Darwen Police said: "At approximately 2am on 15th April police received a 999 call from a male stating he had broken into a pharmacy and was now stuck inside and needed help getting out.

"On officer’s arrival at the pharmacy they could see a male inside who had consumed a large quantity of drugs from the pharmacy and was extremely inebriated as a result.

"The male had broken in using a wooden plank to prise open the metal bars on the window and once inside had taken approximately 300 Diazepam tablets as well as concealing further tablets up his .… (we will leave that to your imaginations).

"Ambulance were called due to the large quantity of drugs taken as well as fire who were able to assist in getting the male out of the pharmacy."