A HOUSE breaker who struck while on prison licence and disturbed his victims in their home is behind bars for five years.

Ian Ashworth, 33, also raided another property while on bail and the judge who jailed him told him he was an "habitual burglar."

Vincent Cheetham, 36, an accomplice who handled the proceeds of a raid on a home and also burgled a neighbour's house, was sent to custody for a total of 12 months.

Sentencing the pair, Recorder John Gateshill said Ashworth had an appalling record for dishonesty and burglary.

He said after Ashworth had broken into a house in Colne Road on May 13 while subject to licence he was bailed and then went on to burgle another property in Napier Street, Nelson. Ashworth also handled property from a break-in in Lord Street, Colne.

Ashworth of Fleet Street, Nelson, had admitted two burglaries and handling stolen goods.

Cheetham, of Hufling Lane, Burnley, had pleaded guilty to burglary, handling stolen goods and was also resentenced after the judge revoked the community punishment order. He had been committed for sentence by the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale magistrates.