A BURGLAR who was released from prison just before Christmas resorted to his old tricks two months later.

The return to crime landed father-of-two Paul Thornley a sentence of four years and five months.

Thornley, 26, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burgling a house in Lindisfarne Avenue, Blackburn. He admitted burgling a portable building and was committed for sentence by Blackburn magistrates for burgling a house on Aintree Drive, Blackburn.

He was jailed for three-and-a-half years for the offences, plus an additional 11 months from his previous sentence.

Roger Green, prosecuting, told the court Thornley had been released on December 14 last year from a two year prison sentence for burglary. On February 24 he burgled a house on Lindisfarne Avenue while the householder was out for the evening. She returned to find a rear kitchen window had been forced and all the rooms in her home had been entered. Property worth £830 had been taken.

The second burglary in March involved portable buildings at Blackburn railway station. Property worth £10,719 was taken.

On March 15 Thornley was arrested at a house on Ulverston Close, Blackburn.

Thornley told police he had stolen property to fund his heroin habit. While on bail he burgled a house on Aintree Drive, Blackburn, while the householder was on holiday.

Mr Keith Thomas, defending, said Thornley, who had two children aged 12 and seven, had pleaded guilty and had co-operated with the police.

Following Thornley's release from his last sentence, he had remained drug-free. He then met up with a young woman who was involved with drugs and that had led to his marked deterioration.