A BURGLAR caught red-handed inside a Leigh house told police the property had already been broken into and there was nothing left to steal.

Police went to the house after receiving information that a man had been seen inside and detained James Hutchinson.

And the furious owner, Ian Fitton, told officers that the burglary was the fourth time he had been broken into in four weeks.

Hutchinson, aged 28, of Carr Common Road, Hindley Green, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence for burglary.

Prosecutor, Vanessa Thompson, said that, as a result of a tip-off, police officers went to the house in Maple Crescent, Leigh, at 7pm, on November 7 last year.

They saw Hutchinson standing on a chair trying to escape. He ran off but was detained after a short chase.

Unlocked yard

He was taken to Leigh police station where he was interviewed. At first he told officers he had taken refuge in the nearest unlocked yard to avoid a gang of four men.

Hutchinson's previous criminal record included burglary, attempted burglary and wounding. The court was told that it was the fourth time in four weeks that Mr Fitton's property had been burgled.

Justin Hayhoe, defending, said that Hutchinson had been addicted to heroin in the past and his family had disowned him.

He had committed the burglary on his birthday after a lot of drink and was passing the house and saw that it had been broken into already.

He decided to go inside and found the house had been ransacked but found there was nothing to take.

Judge Bruce Macmillan said that a night-time burglary of a dwelling house was a serious offence and always merited a custodial sentence.

Hutchinson had already served the equivalent of a 12-month sentence while on remand. Judge Bruce Macmillan sentenced him to 12 months in prison.