CASH strapped Jason Cooper stole money off his friend in a chance theft –while his pal was up in the attic.Cooper, 20, of Cavendish Road, Felixstowe, was a regular visitor round his friend's home and on the day of the crime was having problems with his overdraft.

CASH strapped Jason Cooper stole money off his friend in a chance theft –while his pal was up in the attic.

Cooper, 20, of Cavendish Road, Felixstowe, was a regular visitor round his friend's home and on the day of the crime was having problems with his overdraft.

He admitted stealing a red tin containing money and a cash card after his pal discovered it missing from his bedroom on May 13.

"The only person left unattended in the house at the time was Jason Cooper," said Stephen Coleman, prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court.

Cooper was arrested and police searched his car where they found a red tin in the boot with £9.12 and a cash card. In police interview he admitted the theft to pay off loans.

The court heard the victim thought the tin contained £280 but Cooper put the loss at £160. After he was rumbled an agreement was made between the two to pay the cash back.

Roger Stewart, mitigating, said: "At the time of the offence he [Cooper] was in a certain amount of financial difficulty and had problems with his bank.

"His bank was indicating he had an overdraft he was in dispute about.

"Following a financial interview with the bank manager the situation has been corrected and the overdraft amount was recognised to have been in error.

"He was under a certain amount of financial pressure.

"His went into the loft, for some reason, and while he was up there the opportunity arose for [Cooper] to take this tin and contents of the tin." He added Cooper bitterly regretted the incident and agreed to repay his friend £185, adding extra as a goodwill gesture.

Bench chairman John Nichols fined him £200 and ordered him to pay £55 court costs plus £185 compensation.