AN offender took to the rooftops in an attempt to give police the slip -- but ended up walking straight into the arms of the law.

Burnley Crown Court heard how John Gabriel, 28, crashed through a neighbour's skylight, met the occupant on the landing, and then went downstairs and opened the front door -- where officers were waiting.

Gabriel, who stole boilers from houses, led police on a high speed night-time car chase, without his lights, and smashed into a parked car. He was sent to jail for a total of eight months.

Recorder Harry Narayan told him he would be failing in his duty if he did not sent him to prison. The defendant, of Bright Street, Padiham, admitted two counts of burglary, criminal damage, dangerous driving, resisting a police officer and asked for four offences to be considered. He had been committed for sentence by the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Magistrates.

Roger Baldwin, defending, said Gabriel had never received a custodial sentence before but had been on remand and was aware what prison was like and was anxious to avoid it.

The defendant had not committed burglary before but he was told there was a boiler at the first house he broke into and he would be paid £100 if he removed it. He then provided the same person with a number of boilers from several properties.

Mr Baldwin said most of the houses Gabriel broke into were unoccupied and most, if not all, were empty.

The dangerous driving was not the worst of its kind. He had gone between one-and-a-half and two miles in total but no vehicle or person was put in danger apart from the Golf car he collided with.

Mr Baldwin said Gabriel had been thrown out by his girlfriend and was about to sleep in the car when the police turned up. He didn't have a driving licence so made off and was chased.

When the police arrived at his home the defendant took to the roof because he did not want to spend the night in the cells.