A prolific offender who was caught on CCTV and ring doorbell footage trying car doors had only been out of prison for two days.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Bernard Rawstron has more than 200 previous convictions for identical offences.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said she had little option but to return him to prison.

“You have been released and gone out committing the same kind of offences almost immediately,” said District Judge Preston.

“You were still on prison licence and will probably be recalled on that anyway.”

Rawstron, 49, of Leach Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to four charges of vehicle interference and one of theft of a pair of sunglasses from a car.

He was jailed for six weeks.

Nicola Mills, prosecuting, said in the early hours of Sunday, Rawstron was in the Barrow area near Clitheroe trying car doors.

“It is not known how many he tried to access but he is charged with those for which there is CCTV or ring doorbell footage,” said Miss Mills.

“He was only released from prison on Friday.”

Mark Williams, mitigating, said having been released on Friday any useful work he would have done with the probation service would not start until the following week.

“By then he has already committed further offences,” said Mr Williams.

“He has more than 200 previous on his record, almost exclusively for this kind of offence.”

Mr Williams said his client didn’t go equipped for theft.

“He tries doors and if they are open he goes in and roots around to see if there is anything to take,” said Mr Williams.

“On one of these occasions he took a pair of sunglasses and on the others he took nothing.”

He said Rawstron was fully aware if he got caught he would go back into custody.

“He understands that as part of the process of what he does,” said Mr Williams.

“I wouldn’t say he wants to go back to prison but it is not something that holds any fears for him.”