A "PROFESSIONAL" shop burglar targeted 15 Burnley town centre businesses in a five-week spree, a court was told.

Jobless Anthony Greaves, 34, used the same degree of expertise to get into all the properties between September 28 and the start of November.

Greaves, who a decade ago was given a six-and-a-half year jail term for manslaughter, admitted burglary with intent to steal and asked for 14 offences to be considered.

He was bailed until December 2 for reports and was warned by Burnley magistrates he could be facing prison for the harm he had caused local traders.

The bench chairman told Greaves, of Branch Road, Burnley, they wanted to punish him and protect the public. He was told he must stay indoors between 9pm and 7am.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, told the court the defendant ransacked opticians Dolland and Aitchison and tried to break into the safe on October 29.

Staff returned to find a glass panel removed and the safe damaged. Nothing was taken but the defendant caused £400 damage. Footwear lifts were taken and there was further evidence to link Greaves with the raid.

Mr Parker said Greaves appeared in court on Saturday and because there had been a number of break-ins in the town centre with similar hallmarks he was remanded in police cells over the weekend and owned up to 14 more raids.

The prosecutor said the offences had a "some degree of professionalism", with Greaves either using something to cut glass panels or climbing on to the roof and removing slates.

Mr Parker added the officer in charge of the case had made a statement saying were it not for the defendant admitting the 14 other offences, they may well not have been detected. The defendant had a criminal record but had been "out of action" in the mid 1990s, when he served a sentence for manslaughter.

Philip Turner, defending, said Greaves was sent to custody for 78 months in December 1995 and was released at the beginning of 1998 after serving time on remand. He had then kept out of trouble for five years.

He said: "The defendant was short of money and it was getting him down considerably. It seems he resorted to his old tricks and committed a number of burglaries of shop premises over five weeks."

Mr Turner added the officer in the case felt the defendant's admissions meant he showed genuine remorse and had taken a positive step towards rehabilitation.