A BURGLAR caught out by footprints from his trainers claimed a man had borrowed them and committed the raid.

Burnley Crown Court heard how long time heroin addict and criminal Frank Clark, 29, helped himself to his victims' jewellery and then tried to pass it on to a woman who lived at the end of their street.

Ex-convict Clark, said to have "the record of a burglar" and who committed the offence while subject to a drug treatment and testing order, was jailed for two years.

The defendant, of Peel Street, Colne, admitted burglary at the property in Hawarden Street, Nelson, last August.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, told the court the victims left their house secure apart from two windows slightly ajar at 7.30pm.

They returned at 1.30am the next morning to find they had been burgled and property to the tune of more than £1,000 missing.

Police were alerted but the householder also made enquiries with neighbours. A resident informed the victim she had been visited by a man she knew as "Clarkie," and he had told her his girlfriend was in need of drugs. He needed £20 to help her. Miss Statham said the neighbour told the victim said she could not help with £20, but Clark had then offered her a Greek gold bracelet, a pair of earings and some cigarettes.

The victim confirmed the bracelet was his as well as the cigarettes.

Police forensic experts took footprint lifts from a chest of drawers beneath the point of entry in the victims' back bedroom.

The defendant was arrested, his footwear was seized and analysis showed strong support for a match.

When the defendant was questioned, he at first denied any involvement in the break-in, but said he had been present when stolen property had been sold on.

Miss Statham said Clark then claimed a man had borrowed his trainers, committed the burglary and returned with the stolen haul.

Alex Leach, defending, said Clark had gone on a detoxification course while on remand and had given negative tests.

He was almost 30 now and was physically sick and tired of the life of Class A drugs, repeated offending and incarceration he had been leading.