A MAN who tried to trick his way into a Darwen woman’s home, claiming he was being chased, has been jailed for a total of 21 months.

Jamie King was heard rattling the door handle one morning.

He then asked to be let in, but the woman refused. King then went to another home two doors away and asked to be let in there. Again he was refused.

Preston Crown Court heard that King went on to claim to police he had been kidnapped, held overnight and beaten up, but had managed to escape from his captor’s house.

The 22-year-old defendant, of Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, had denied a charge of attempted burglary and two others of having a bladed article in a public place, but a jury convicted him following trial.

He admitted other offences of attempting to pervert the course of justice, and assaulting a policeman in the execution of his duty.

The attempted burglary took place on January 10, in Spring Vale Garden Village.

A woman was working on her laptop at 9am when she heard her door handle being rattled.

On looking out of the window she saw King. He was asking to be let in, claiming he was being chased.

She told him no and that she was going to ring the police.

The defendant began walking away, but went to a home two doors away and asked if he could be let in. Again, he was refused.

Catherine Ellis, defending, said King wanted to apologise to the woman in the attempt burglary.

She said: “He appreciates that in the circumstances, even attending at her door, would have frightened and upset her.

“This was not a deliberate targeting of a vulnerable person.

“The offence was unplanned.”

King, who has been dealt with for burglary in the past, was told by the judge he had a bad record.