POLICE found a pensioner sobbing and shaking after he had woken in the early hours to find an intruder rifling through his bedroom, a court was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how officers were so concerned about the 70 year old victim, they telephoned his brother to come and look after him.

The culprit's barrister had told how Brett Lee Duxbury, 27, was so drunk he could not recollect much of what he had done.

Judge Barbara Watson said: "The offence was mean and unpleasant."

Duxbury, of Sparth Avenue, Clayton-le-Moors, was sent to prison for three years and three months. He admitted burglary and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Neil Standage, prosecuting, said the pensioner, who lived in Accrington, was awoken at 3am last December and found Duxbury going through his bedroom drawers. He was pushed aside by the defendant, who escaped.

Robert Crawford, defending, said Duxbury had only been convicted of house burglary twice before, the last time almost nine years ago.