A CROOK with a bad record has gone to prison after magistrates said he had not responded to other sentences.

Darryll James Smith, 27, had 36 previous convictions, including 12 for dishonesty, and sold the stolen haul from a garage burglary to a second-hand shop, the Burnley bench heard.

Smith, of Cowgill Street, Earby, was sent to jail for three months, after admitting handling stolen goods.

Richard Taylor, defending, said Smith had been asked to go to the second-hand shop with the property because he knew the owner.

He knew the items were stolen, but did not know where from.

The defendant had had a lot of growing up to do recently. His father, the proprietor of a Barnoldswick building firm, had suffered a heart attack, the business had folded and Smith had had to stay at home and care for his father.

Mr Taylor added a local building firm was going to offer work to Smith.

It was not necessary to impose a custodial sentence. The defendant was somewhat older and wiser than the last time he received custody.

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