A HOUSE-breaking "lookout," with 11 previous convictions for burglary at people's homes, is behind bars for two years.

Burnley Crown Court heard police found drug addict Christopher Ankers, 25, armed with a screwdriver.

He claimed he was trying to be a good citizen and ended up being arrested.

Sentencing him, Judge Raymond Bennett said the raid on the pensioner's property had some signs of sophistication as the defendant was wearing gloves and his drug addiction could not be an excuse for crime.

Ankers, of Norfolk Grove, Church, had earlier admitted burglary.

Julian Taylor, prosecuting, said the victim was 71 years old and had gone on holiday, leaving his great niece looking after his house in Accrington.

In March, a neighbour saw the complainant's security light go on and heard sounds in his yard and saw a shadow moving towards the next door back gate.

Police were alerted, found a door had been kicked in and a video player was on the ground next to the back door.

Ankers was spotted hiding in an alcove. He was wearing gloves but could offer no reason why he was there.

A screwdriver was found on him, but the defendant claimed he had gone to see if everything was all right at the house, was trying to be a good citizen but had been arrested.

Mr Taylor said Ankers claimed he had seen two lads in the yard and had taken the screwdriver to defend himself.

He said he had taken heroin that night, but could remember what went on.

Fraser Livesey, defending, said Ankers had the criminal record of a heroin user but had been detoxifying while in custody.