A MAN who broke into an 87-year-old woman's home sent his victim a letter of apology and a bouquet of flowers after police told him what he had done.

Andrew Richard Haworth, 22, burst into tears after realising he had gone into the pensioner Nellie Clegg's home while in a drink and drug induced stupor.

Haworth, of Wolseley Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to damaging a glass door, possession of cannabis and possession of a lock-knife in a public place.

The magistrates ordered him to pay £60 compensation and £35 costs and made him subject to a conditional discharge for 12 months.

"I couldn't believe what I had done and I was absolutely gutted," said Haworth after the hearing at Blackburn magistrates

"I couldn't help thinking what might have happened if the old lady had been disturbed and found me in her home. It made me feel sick and I can't explain how sorry I am for what I did."

Charlotte Crane, prosecuting, said Mrs Clegg had slept through the incident and was only made aware of the fact that someone had been in her home in Blackburn when her daughter, who had been alerted by neighbours, woke her up.

A neighbour had also called the police at 7.35am on April 10 and reported an "extremely" drunk man. A police officer saw the broken door at the side of Mrs Clegg's home and found Haworth slumped in a deck chair in a porch area sound asleep.

When he was roused Haworth, he was so drunk that he didn't know where he was or what he was doing.

Miss Crane said that when he was interviewed , Haworth was totally unaware of what he had done. He said he had drunk about 16 cans of beer before going to a party where he drank more alcohol and took cocaine.

He could not remember anything until waking in the police station. When told what had happened he was clearly concerned and upset and asked if he had hurt anyone.

Kevin Preston, defending, said: "Piecing things together it seems he was slumped outside the party and two friends tried to get him home. It may be that he thought he was at his own home."

Mr Preston said that when he was found the police could not make out a word he was saying and they were concerned because he was drifting in and out of consciousness."