A DRUG addict who tried to raid a house where the occupant was later found dead by police, has been jailed for a total of two and a half years.

A court heard how a pathologist had reported the sequence of events which began with Ryan Rosthorn, 22, trying to get into the home of Trevor Whitehead brought on a heart attack.

But, the victim's home looked like an abandoned shop and the prosecution conceeded the defendant had no reason to believe anybody was living there. Rosthorn, who was trying to break into the amusement arcade next door, had no idea anybody was in the property or that anybody might come to any harm.

Sentencing Rosthorn, Judge David Pirie said Mr Whitehead suffered severe heart disease .

He said the effects of the incident were something the court had to have regard to, but the defendant was being dealt with for attempted burglary and nothing else.

Rosthorn, of Howard Close, Accrington, had earlier admitted burglary, attempted burglary and been committed for sentence by the Hyndburn magistrates.

Burnley Crown court was told Mr Whitehead lived on Blackburn Road, Accrington, and was at his home at about 11.30pm, last December, when the defendant tried to get in.

Police were called, chased him and almost two hours later went to see Mr Whitehead to get a statement from him.

He came to the door then went back into the property to get some keys, but did not return. When officers broke in about 25 minutes later, they found Mr Whitehead dead. Rosthorn had broken into an amusement arcade several days before.

Richard Hunt, defending, said Rosthorn had been in custody for three months and knew he was facing his first term in an adult jail.

He was currently with schedule one offenders and was upset at being branded as one of them in the eyes of the prison world.