A HOUSE breaker who struck at a woman's home and took items of sentimental value among his haul has walked free from court.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Duncan Richards, 23, was in the grip of a heroin addiction and locked himself in his bedroom for three months to get 'clean'.

Richards, who also went spending with credit cards taken from another raid, escaped a jail sentence after a judge was told he was now looking after his grandparents and had so far won the battle with heroin.

Judge Lesley Newton said burglars normally went to prison and while the victim's jewellery may not have been worth a lot second hand, to her it would have been priceless.

She added it was a "very close run thing" whether or not Richards lost his freedom -- and warned him he would end up behind bars if he went back to drugs. The defendant, then living in the Colne area, admitted burglary and handling stolen goods.

Neil Standage, prosecuting, said in January the house occupant went away and on returning to her home in Colne found the kitchen window had been forced open.

A large quantity of goods, including jewellery of sentimental value, had been taken. The victim now felt so insecure and unsafe she slept on her settee.

The defendant, who later used stolen credit cards taken from a house in Colne in the town's Asda, told police he and an accomplice had gone out looking for a property to burgle.

He received £120 for his share of the proceeds and used it to buy drugs.

Martin Hackett, defending, said Richards was not heavily convicted and had never been to custody.

He had been addicted to heroin for some years and when he came to live in the Burnley area was offence-free and working. He then went back to his old ways.

The defendant had now left the area to live with his grandparents. He had locked himself in his room to fight his addiction and had done it without any help.

Mr Hackett said the court could draw back from custody and give Richards a chance with a lengthy probation order.

An order would help him develop the good works and intentions he had started over the last three months.