A BURGLAR who was caught by his victims has won his freedom so he can be assessed for a drug treatment and testing order.

Mark Mansell, 35, had appeared before magistrates accused of the first raid and then struck the second time on his way home.

He had become addicted to hard drugs while serving a seven year stretch for robbery, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The defendant, said to have offended because he was desperate to feed his craving for drugs, was given bail until October 27 for the assessment.

Mansell, of Alfred Street, Whitworth, had admitted two counts of burglary and had been committed for sentence by the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Magistrates.

Lyn Waites, prosecuting, said the first victim returned to his home in the afternoon to see the defendant walking away with a bag which belonged to him.

Miss Waites said Mansell appeared before Rossendale magistrates and on the way home tried to kick in a door at another house on Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall.

The victim caught him but the defendant claimed he was looking for his missing mountain bike.