A JUDGE has given a middle-aged career criminal a chance to put it all behind him - but warned him :"I will keep my eye on you."

Judge Peter Openshaw had been told drug addict and habitual burglar Brian Furlong, 41, was now motivated to change after almost a lifetime of offending.

The judge told the defendant, whose latest victim had earlier invited him to his home for a of tea, he had been breaking the law for decades but if he went to jail he would come out and do it again.

He gave Furlong a two year community rehabilitation order, to include the Addressing Substance Related Programme.

The judge warned the defendant he would not get another chance and asked for six monthly reports on his progress.

Furlong, formerly of Cambridge Close, Padiham, had admitted burglary, theft and asked for two offences to be considered. Tim Ashmole, defending, said it was somewhat unusual to find someone aged 41 on heroin and committing burglaries.

He continued: "I think the defendant accepts that at 41, if he carries on much longer he won't see his 50th birthday, maybe not even his 45th."