A MAN who carried out a £40,000 catalogue of burglaries has been jailed for five years.

Alan Pearson struck mainly in the daytime when his victims were out.

But, in one instance, a night shift worker had a terrifying confrontation at her home in Morecambe.

Her experience represented every householder's worst nightmare, said a judge passing sentence on the 22 year old at Preston Crown Court.

Pearson of Stanley Street, Accrington, had pleaded guilty to nine domestic burglaries and asked for another 27 offences, all but one for burglary, to be considered.

His wife, 21 year old Rose-Marie Airey had admitted five charges of handling stolen goods.

The burglaries occurred in September, October and November last year.

Mr Charles Brown, prosecuting, told how Pearson was apprehended as a result of events at a house on Mardale Avenue, Morecambe on November 12.

In all, police managed to recover £10,000 of the £40,000 total amount of stolen property.

This came not only from Pearson's caravan and van, but pawnbrokers where goods had been sold.

His list of offences taken into consideration involved six burglaries at Accrington, plus others at Stockton-on-Tees and Scunthorpe.

The nine charges related to the Morecambe, Lancaster and Scunthorpe areas.

No other confrontations occurred apart from one at Morecambe.

Pearson had previous convictions for burglary.