A THIEF with more than 100 convictions has been jailed after raiding a family's home as they were asleep upstairs, leav-ing them shaken.

Burnley Crown Court heard how drug addict and prolific crook Rafiq Shaban, broke into the house on Dunderdale Avenue in Nelson, as five people slept in their beds between 3am and 8am.

He was arrested the day after, on February 27, and some of the stolen haul, which had included house keys and bank cards, was recovered from the property where he was staying.

The hearing was told how the victims were left shaken and upset by the intrusion into their home and the owner's son now slept on the settee at night because the family feared it might happen again.

Shaban, 38, of Belgrave Street, Nelson, has more than 100 offences on his record, mostly for theft.

He had admitted burglary, had been committed for sent-ence by Pennine magistrates and also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender.

He was jailed for three years and two months. Katie Jones, for the defendant, said he was very sorry and very remorseful for the offence.

He got involved for financial reasons, without properly thinking about his actions.

He had been under the influence of drugs at the time. There was no confrontation with the householder.

Miss Jones said the defendant had made progress while in custody.

Before his arrest, he had been the sole carer for his mother and he was very concerned about the impact his remand would have on her.

Sentencing, Recorder Kevin Talbot told the defendant it was a 'deeply aggravating feature' that the burglary took place in the early hours while five occupants were in the house.