POLICE called to a house raid in Accrington met the burglar coming out of the property but thought he was a concerned neighbour, a court was told.

Officers then went back to Stephen O'Callaghan and asked him to lift his foot after finding a shoe print on the stainless steel drainer.

He was arrested and when a scenes of crimes officer took a footwear impression and fingerprint lift from the premises, they matched the defendant.

O'Callaghan who is in custody and has almost 130 convictions to his name is now set to go to a rehabilitation centre in Weston-super-Mare to kick his drug addiction.

The defendant, of no fixed address, admitted burglary and was remanded until today when he is due to appear at Burnley Crown Court.

Judge Barbara Watson told him she knew everything had been tried with O'Callaghan in his battle with addiction.

She said: "This is one last chance. It's a golden opportunity."

The defendant told the judge: "Thank you. I very much appreciate it."

The court heard how the householder had alerted police after hearing noises.