A FATHER-of-two who clocked up his seventh conviction for house burglary after suffering a bereavement and going back to drugs has been jailed.

Burnley Crown Court heard how James Collier's best friend had committed suicide and things had got on top of him before he struck at a family home in Bacup during the day in January.

He helped himself to electrical equipment and alcohol to the tune of £500 in a bid to fund his heroin addiction.

The defendant, of Tong Lane, Bacup, had admitted burglary and had been committed for sentence by Burnley Magistrates. He was sent to prison for 15 months.

Collier had been in custody 60 days and had already served the equivalent of a four month sentence.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Byrne told the defendant the public was entitled to look to the courts for protection against the all too prevailent evil of burglars who targeted other people's properties to fund their addictions.

The judge added whilst drugs may be a reason for burgling it could never be, in any circumstances, an excuse.

He added: "Particularly in recent years non custodial sentences do not seem to have afforded the public the protection they are entitled to expect from your conduct."

Michael Lavery, defending, told the court Collier had been making efforts to come off drugs before the offence.

He committed the burglary on the spur of the moment out of desperation even though he had not burgled for a number of years. He immediately returned the property to police when they came to his house and he apologised during interview.

Mr Lavery said there had been a four year gap in Collier's offending, between 2002 and 2006, when he had managed to remain clean. The offence had been a one-off and a terrible mistake.

The barrister added: "Before this offence he was trying to get back on a programme of rehabilitation but it didn't come soon enough."