A BURGLAR who raided his own mother's house has been jailed for two and a half years.

Lee Woods was also caught-in-the-act at another address in Snowden Avenue, Blackburn, by a neighbour who recognised him.

He begged for police not to be called, saying he did not want to return to prison.

The other burglary was carried out in Wimberley Street, Blackburn, at the home of his mother, who was at Preston Crown Court for his sentencing hearing.

Woods, 26, of St Peter Street, Blackburn, admitted the two burglaries and his previous convictions meant he was liable to a substantial jail term.

The court was told that the first burglary took place on November 26 last year in Snowden Avenue.

A man was woken by a neighbour's security alarm and went round to investigate, said Mr Francis McEntee, prosecuting.

Woods was seen to emerge from a patio door and the witness recognised him.

Mr McEntee said: "The defendant pleaded with the witness not to contact police. He offered to pay for the damage.

"Others came to the scene and at that point the defendant was saying he would lose his job and that he did not want to go back to prison. He made it clear he wasn't hanging about if the police were coming.

"He made an excuse about going to the toilet and disappeared."

He told police that he owed money for drugs and that someone had demanded repayment from him.

Woods was on bail when he carried out the burglary at his mum's home in Wimberley Street.

The prosecution said she woke one morning in February to realise that her handbag had been taken. There was no sign of a forced entry.

A house key was found on Woods when he was arrested.

The court heard that he had two previous court sentences in the past for a total of four burglaries.

His barrister, Mr Tim Ashmole, said Woods had now started to address his drug problem.