A BURGLAR who helped himself to a haul worth almost £2,000 from a woman's home while she was out has been given another stint behind bars -- this time for three years.

Mark Wilson, 23, must serve the new sentence on top of one he is currently serving. Sentencing him, Judge Raymond Bennett said people got very upset about their homes being targeted and added the defendant didn't realise that, because this was the 33rd raid for which he had been caught and punished. He said: "You are a menace to householders and one can only infer that whenever you are released, you are going to be back at it again."

Wilson, care of HM Prison, Preston, admitted burglary at the house on Whalley Road, Accrington, and had been committed for sentence by the Hyndburn magistrates.

Michael Lavery, prosecuting, said the offence was committed during the daytime. A window had been smashed, all rooms searched, and jewellery and other items, to the tune of £1,855 were taken. Blood was left in a bedroom and was traced to Wilson through DNA testing.

Julie Taylor, defending, said Wilson was becoming institutionalised, had spent a long time in custody and realised he had to break the cycle. He was now drug free but when he had been let out last time, he had been in debt, had been beaten up and was in fear for his own safety.