A MAN responsible for dozens of burglaries in the Blackburn area has been jailed for four years.

Adrian Preston resorted to crime in a desperate move to pay off a drug dealer and almost wanted to get caught, to get the dealer off his back, Preston Crown Court heard.

The 21-year-old, of Whalley Road, Padiham, was given a total of four years, having pleaded guilty to three charges of burglary and one of theft, as well as an actual bodily harm assault.

He asked for a total of 25 further offences of burglary to be taken into consideration.

The list of TICs involved crimes, the vast majority occurring in Blackburn last autumn, and involving thousands of pounds worth of property.

David Macro, prosecuting, said that a number of them were committed while the defendant was on bail for assault.

In that offence, Preston approached a 17-year-old youth in Blackburn's shopping centre last October and punched the lad in the mouth.

The teenager had to go to hospital where 10 stitches were inserted in his lip.

While on bail the following month he burgled several homes, two of them in Woodbine Road. He also took a Volkswagen Golf from outside one of the addresses.

He was caught after someone reported that someone "off his head" was driving a Volkswagen and struggling to control the vehicle.

Preston was discovered hiding under a bed at someone's flat. He admitted the offences and went on to made admissions to all the burglaries he had done.

He had previous convictions for burglary in 2002 and 2003.

Martin Hackett, defending, said it had been prolific offending by someone with a lengthy drug addiction.

He wanted to wipe the slate lean and when eventually released, would seek help to stay off drugs.

"He was in debt, as was his girlfriend, to drug dealers.

"The dealer was forcing his hand regarding payment.

"He almost wanted to get caught to get the drug dealer off him."