A WOULD-BE raider was suffering a crisis when he smashed the window of a health centre pharmacy in the early hours, a court was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Matthew Gray, 26, had had a cocktail of drink and drugs and had been trying to contact his mother in Australia before breaking the window and causing stacked-up property to fall out.

He almost ran into the arms of the law when he was caught immediately 75 yards away by a police officer, who had heard the alarm going off at 4.30am.

Gray, whose barrister told of good progress he had made, including taking his driving test, was told by Judge Raymond Bennett he had had his chances and they had run out. He was jailed for 12 months. The judge said people must understand if they did what he had they must expect to go to prison -- because that was what the public expected.

Gray, of Victoria Parade, Waterfoot, had earlier admitted attempted burglary at Waterfoot Health Centre in February.

Paul Hague, prosecuting, said the defendant was found nearby in some bushes close to the centre.

He could not give a reasonable explanation of what he was doing there. His anorak was forensically tested and 200 fragments of glass were found which gave strong support for his being involved in the burglary attempt. He later told officers he couldn't remember anything. Dennis Watson, defending, said he was "about to sing a song that had been sung before". The offence was ham-fisted as the defendant knew the property was alarmed. He had been under acute pressure and suffering from depression.