A PROLIFIC raider who targeted two neighbouring houses for boilers and copper piping has won his freedom so he can have drugs treatment.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Wayne Nix, 36, said to also have drink and mental health issues, struck at two empty houses in Springhill Road, Accrington, on one day and was caught red-handed in one property.

Nix, who has a record of 70 offences for dishonesty, started his life of crime 20 years ago.

The defendant had been on remand in custody for six months and walked to freedom after admitting two burglaries and possessing amphetamine on May 19.

Nix, of Springhill Road, was given 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, with two years supervision and a nine month drug rehabilitation order.

He also received a six months conditional discharge.

Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Gibson, who had read psychiatric as well as pre-sentence reports, said the break-ins were not classic house burglaries.

But the defendant had known what he was doing and the offences were deliberate.

He warned Nix if he committed any more offences, he would start with the activation of the suspended term and get more on top.

Julian Taylor, prosecuting, said a tenant returned to a house and found water dripping from the ceiling.

She went upstairs and found the floorboards had been lifted, the bath was upside down and the boiler and copper piping had been stolen.

A window had been smashed with a brick and the door unlocked from inside.

Police had earlier been to a property four doors down after reports of loud banging.

They found the defendant and another man inside with a bag of tools in the process of removing a boiler and copper piping.

Daniel King, for Nix, said his client's history of offending was appalling.

But he had been attending Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous in a bid to turn his life around.