A DRUG-ADDICT house breaker who struck to feed his £40-a-day addiction is behind bars for more than four years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Simon Barras, 31, had already raided 12 homes and offended while on prison licence, just months after his release.

Barras was jailed for three years, to be served after the 457-day unexpired portion of his last sentence.

Judge Barbara Watson told the defendant his record was a" sad and depressing picture" of house burglaries and he was just wasting his life.

She went on: "You are not yet at the stage where you feel you can address your addiction and as long as you remain addicted you are at high risk of further offending."

Barras, of Kelbrook Drive, Burnley, admitted two house burglaries and asked for three offences to be considered.

David Temkin, prosecuting, told the court the first victim found his £100 television missing and rooms ransacked. Footwear impressions were left which led police to the defendant.

Barras next broke into a house on Redruth Street, Burnley, where a 12-year-old boy had been left home alone.

He took a DVD player and DVDs said to be worth £780. The boy's mother, who had gone away for the weekend, afterwards felt frightened to go out and scared when entering her home. She was nervous and suffered disturbed sleep patterns.

Mr Temkin said when Barras was interviewed he told officers he sold his haul for £100 to feed his £20 to £40 a day drug habit.

Anthony Cross, defending, said: "The defendant is getting to that age where hopefully he will be thinking about sorting himself out."