BURNLEY and Pendle's most prolific young house breaker has been jailed for five years in a bid to help the public sleep safe in their beds.

Dean Johnson, 25, an abuse victim said to be "troubled and damaged" and who has tried to hang himself in custody, has been free for just three months out of the last 10 years.

He has raided almost 60 homes in the area leaving a trail of devastation behind him, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Johnson, who has a total of 74 convictions for burglary and 116 for theft, struck again just after he had been released from prison. He went on a two-month amphetamine binge which led to yet more offences - and to an 85-year-old woman waking to find him standing by her bed after ransacking her home.

Sentencing him, Judge Raymond Bennett said in all his yearshe had never come across a defendant of Johnson's age with such a long record for house burglary.

The judge, who told Johnson many people might think he ought to be locked up for the rest of his life, said the 85-year-old must have been terrified and had suffered an awful ordeal.

Judge Bennett said the defendant, who fought back tears in the dock, must have found life extremely difficult but he had also made life difficult for others. He went on: "They are entitled to be protected however badly you were treated as a child."

Johnson, of Talbot Street, Colne, admitted three counts of burglary, attempted burglary, theft and vehicle interference. He was sent to prison for five years.

Sarah Spear, prosecuting, said in September the 85-year-old, who lived alone in Colne, awoke to see a shadowy figure in her bedroom. He left and she found bank cards and her late husband's watch had been stolen.

Later that day, Johnson used the cards at the Asda store in Colne where he was captured on CCTV.

The defendant also got into another property on Knotts Lane, Colne, by stealing keys from the victim's car . He helped himself to £130 cash, a wallet and bank cards.

Johnson later told police he had no recollection of his actions as he had been "off his head."

Miss Spear told the court a couple returned from holiday to their Bramble Street, Burnley, home, to find jewellery worth £3,000 had been taken. The wife had been left so insecure by the raid she had taken to sleeping with a baseball bat by her bed.

Johnson also made a burglary attempt on Keighley Road, Colne. The prosecutor said the defendant had 52 previous convictions for house burglary and his last jail term was four years.

Hugh Barton, defending, said life had been bleak for Johnson and he had suffered emotional and physical abuse as a child and first went to prison when he was 15.

Mr Barton said Johnson, who had gone through "multiple drug use," had an atrocious record but after his release from his last term of custody had sensed an alternative life. He had been working as a stage erector and had got a girlfriend.

"That three months was the happiest period of his whole life. This time he is genuinely ashamed and has a real sense of whatever sentence is passed, he is determined he will not come back before the courts."

Mr Barton added Johnson committed the offences when he went on a two-month amphetamine binge after being laid off from work. He told the court: "For the first time there is a real determination to change."

Mr Barton said Johnson, who was troubled and damaged, had tried to hang himself in prison. His relationship was the only stability in his life. She had helped him and he wanted to be reunited with her.