A MAN who committed two burglaries 12 hours apart has been jailed for a total of three years.

Lee Jones was on prison licence at the time of the offences. A judge sent him back to jail to serve an outstanding nine months when he passed sentence at Preston Crown Court.

Jones, 28, of Fowler Height Close, Blackburn, had pleaded guilty to burgling commercial premises at the building of General Traffic Ltd in Blackburn, and attempted burglary at an address in Elm Street.

Mr Nicholas Simmonds, prosecuting, said the offences took place last November. The defendant took a gold chain and money from the commercial premises. Jones disputed that £150 cash was taken, putting the figure instead at £75. Afterwards the defendant tried to burgle an address in Elm Street, Blackburn. Police saw him in the back yard and another person was also there. Attempts had been made to prise a back door open.

Mr Raymond Turner, defending, said the commercial burglary was committed one night, about 12 hours prior to the attempted burglary. "He admitted the matters straight away to the police. He told them he had committed both when arrested.

"Heroin provoked the commercial burglary. Having obtained money, he spent it on the drug." The other offence arose when he jumped over a wall, during a row. He tried to break into the address, but his girlfriend persuaded him to stop.

Mr Turner said Jones had since gone five months without drugs and wanted to take part in a 12 step programme at prison rehabilitation centre.

Judge John Townend sentenced Jones to two years and three months prison for the burglaries, plus nine months on top for the outstanding licence period.