A 39-YEAR-old “career burglar” has been jailed for 18 weeks after owning up to a series of offences.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Peter Roy Everall had been approached by police while he was serving a prison sentence as part of an operation codenamed “Clean Slate.”

He admitted 13 burglaries which had not been solved before he was jailed for other similar offences.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, told the court that it was not an exaggeration to call Everall a career burglar.

“He started offending in 1985 and since then has amassed 85 convictions for 238 offences including, 135 of theft,” said Miss Allan.

The latest offences admitted by Everall included burglaries at a store, a school, a factory, a church, a sports centre and two at hotels.

Gareth Price, defending, said Everall was due for release on May 10 from the sentence he is currently serving.

“He has a problem with the gaming machines that are found in betting shops these days and that is why he steals,” said Mr Price.

Everall, of Hudd Rake, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary and asked for 11 others to be taken into consideration.