A prolific burglar broke into a range of cafes and takeaways across Blackburn in a spree spanning three months.

Keana Stephens, 25, began this bout of offending on June 16 of this year by entering a black Nissan car that had been left insecure in the street and taking a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses worth £250, £40 in cash, and a bank card.

Three days later, Stephens entered the Chai Station coffee chop in Cherry Street though a window and took £450 from the till, and on the same day entered another Nissan car where he took a wallet, fairy lights, and cleaning products worth up to £200.

Between July 5 and July 10, Stephens entered a further four businesses, including the Chocoberry Café in Whalley Range, where he kicked a glass panel in the window to enter, and took a total of £950 as well as change from numerous charity boxes.

On July 16, he broke into Rizwan Cash and Carry in Altom Street and stole various electrical items.

Five days later he entered Eastern Spice takeaway in Whalley Banks through the kitchen roof, causing £1,000 in damage.

On the same day he entered another takeaway via a skylight and stole £500.

On July 31 he smashed the windows of a café and took the tills, which were later found discarded close by, and the next day at around 5.30am he entered Bee’s Café in Culshaw Street and stole a PlayStation 5, a laptop, tablets, and £1,000 in cash.

From August 3 to August 12, Stephens stole a further sum totalling more than £500 from two more shops before entering Chai Station again on August 20, where he was confronted by the business owner.

There he left behind a t-shirt and a mobile phone which were seized by the police. Stephens was also identified by CCTV on each of the occasions.

He was arrested and made “full and frank admissions” in interview, said prosecutor Isabella Denn-White.

Stephens, of no fixed abode, has 24 previous convictions from 50 offences, and these new offences also put him in breach of a conditional discharge from May for a burglary offence.

Mitigating, Richard English said: “He makes no excuses for himself and does not wish for unreasonable pity to be laid at his feet.

“Prison is probably the best option for him. He has been sober since he has been in custody. It is the first time he has been sober since the last time he went to prison.

“He is engaging with the mental health team on a one-to-one basis and attends education five days a week. He likes to cook and would like, if he can, to start his own restaurant.

“He will develop strategies to keep out of temptation.”

Judge Darren Preston, sentencing, said: “On every occasion you stole property including cash, charity boxes, and electrical items, sometimes causing damage to break in.

“This was a persistent and frequent spree of offending.

 “Small businesses in particular, as well as charities, rely on donations and are financially vulnerable at the moment, and they can ill afford to lose their cash and property.

“It is clear you have had no structure or support in your life since you were a teenager. At last, it seems you are trying to make good use of your time in custody.”

Stephens pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from a motor vehicle and 13 counts of burglary. 

Judge Preston sentenced him to three years and six months in prison.