A THIRD-time home raider who made off in the pensioner victim’s £14,000 mobility car, is behind bars for 28 months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Dale Renton, 18, struck whilst the 81-year-old was asleep in bed in his bungalow.

The burglary was discovered when police were called in the early hours to reports of a vehicle speeding on the Premier Inn car park, off Victoria Road, Burnley.

The mobility car was parked up at an angle and Renton was standing next to the driver’s door.

He immediately ran off but was caught on a river bank.

Renton, of Ashworth Street, Bacup, admitted burglary and taking a vehicle without consent, in April and asked for 11 offences to be considered.

He was sent to a young offenders’ institution and was also banned from driving for a year. He had two previous convictions for burglary Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said victim Joseph Cooper was awoken at 1.50am, by police and found his Astra car had gone.

His wallet was on the floor and £35 had also been taken, as well as a television from a bedroom.

Nick Dearing, for Renton, said he was not entirely cavalier about the offences.