A SERIAL housebreaker with a history of offending spanning almost a quarter of a century was today behind bars.

Career criminal Geoff Wilson, 36, raided a family's home helping himself to a £3,700 haul.

Burnley Crown Court heard the drug addict took jewellery of sentimental value, DVDs and cash from the victims' home in Fern Terrace, Haslingden, in March.

Wilson, who has 40 previous convictions and started his offending in the early 1980s, also admitted a string of burglaries to police in interview. He was jailed for two and a half years.

Sentencing, Recorder Michael Blakey told the defendant the offence was extremely serious and only custody could be justified.

He said house burglaries caused all sorts of distress, alarm and upset to the complainants who then became afraid to leave their properties for fear of people like the defendant turning up and stealing from them.

He added: "The message has to go out that these offences will not be acceptable."

Wilson, of no fixed address, had admitted burglary and had been committed for sentence by Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Magistrates.

David Temkin, prosecuting, told the court that mother-of-three Catherine Fairfield left her home at 1.45pm and returned about 4pm to find the back door damaged.

Glass had been shattered where the children played.

A large amount of property had been taken, including £700 cash.

Police were alerted, the defendant was arrested three days later, was cautioned and made no reply. When he was questioned he made full admissions.

He said he had smashed his way into the house and told police he had sold the stolen property.

Mr Temkin said the defendant admitted five other burglaries, some of them at houses, to the police and was given a caution.

Russell Edmondson, defending, said Wilson co-operated with police and made full and frank admissions.

He offended to fund his drink and drug problems but regretted his actions. His record did him no favours.