A BLACKBURN woman was put under pressure to burgle a flat in the town, a court was told.

Nothing was taken from the property on Stonyhurst Road, but Amanda Atherton was framed by a fingerprint found on a windowsill.

The 25-year-old woman of Hazel Close was sent to prison for 18 months when she was at Preston Crown Court.

Atherton had pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal.

Miss Rachel Smith, prosecuting, said the offence took place in July last year.

Next morning a man whi had stayed the night saw a rear kitchen window was insecure and the frame had been damaged in an attempted entry.

Police found Atherton's fingerprint.

The defendant was traced and arrested on October 2. When interviewed she said someone she did not want to name had forced the window for her.

She had got inside the premises, but found that the occupant was sat up watching TV in bed, so she left. She claimed she had been put under pressure by someone and had gone in looking to steal money to feed her drug habit.

Atherton had a previous conviction for burglary for which she was given 18 months jail.

Mr Ian Dacre, defending, said she had refused to name the third person, for fear of reprisals.