A serving prisoner has been sentenced to four weeks in custody by Skipton magistrates after admitting the theft of a £250 iphone.

Paul Thompson, who appeared in court on Friday in custody, was found by police with the Apple iphone in Holme Lane, Sutton-in-Craven, on July 22, the court was told.

It had been reported lost by its owner from Silsden on June 23.

Thompson, 45, told police he had not stolen the phone and that he had had it for about eight weeks, but he was unable to unlock it when asked to do so, and was unable to produce any bills for it.

The phone had since been returned to its owner.

The court heard Thompson was currently in Northallerton Prison until the end of March after being recalled for being in possession of a bladed article in a public place.

He was also in breach of a conditional discharge imposed in August for shoplifting.

Thompson, who admitted theft, was sentenced to four weeks in prison, to run alongside his current sentence.

He was also given an extra day in prison, to run consecutively, in place of costs.