A FIRST-TIME house breaker is behind bars for 12 months after a judge told him there was no alternative to jail

Burnley Crown Court heard that Paul Wearden, 34, had never raided anyone's home before, although he had 31 previous convictions.

He was said to be embarrassed by what he had done and would like to be able to apologise personally to his victims.

Wearden, of Florence Street, Burnley, had admitted burglary, theft and possessing amphetamine and had been committed for sentence by the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Magistrates.

Richard Taylor, defending, said Wearden, who had had chronic drug problem for some time, was realistic about his fate.

The defendant had been in custody since August 5 and he had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Mr Taylor said the defendant had to decide if he was going to keep returning to the courts or if he was going to stop offending.

Custody may have brought a good thing out of a bad as Wearden looked a lot better than when he was arrested.

He was not seen as a risk to the public and Wearden was embarrassed at having burgled as he had never done it before.