A BURGLAR spotted by police coming out of the property with his haul is behind bars for 12 months.

Burnley Crown Court heard ex-soldier Mark Keane, 25, was arrested and found to have a jewellery box containing a gold chain on him.

Keane got into the house with an accomplice by breaking a window and the pair helped themselves to property to the tune of £1,600.

Sentencing him, Judge David Pirie said time after time people's homes were being broken into and their property taken and for that reason the defendant had to go to jail.

Keane, of Nairne Street, Burnley, had earlier admitted burglary.

Robert Crawford, prosecuting, said after the victim left his home on Gannow Lane, Burnley, and went out for the evening, a neighbour heard noises coming from the back of the house.

About 20 minutes later, he heard the sound of breaking glass, saw the defendant in the back yard, heard breaking glass again and then contacted the police.

An officer went into the back street and saw two men, one the defendant carrying property. They then placed it on the ground in the alleyway.

Paul Hague, defending, said Keane could offer no reasonable explanation for his involvement in the offence. It was out of character. He said Keane had never really settled down after coming out of the Army in 1997 and had never really found a role for himself.

He was not workshy, had had several jobs and had been employed more or less constantly but had never obtained permanent employment.