TWO criminals, with more than 160 offences between them, have been jailed after trying to sell the £4,000 proceeds of a home raid.

Kevin Cragg, 36, who has 90 offences on his record, broke into the ground floor apartment on Birchfield Mews, Burnley, last September 10.

He ransacked it and helped himself to a haul including sentimental jewellery, televisions, watches, electrical equipment, laptops and an iPad.

Cragg then went to a woman’s home with Mark McGranaghan, 39, who has 78 previous offences, bragged about having stolen the property and tried to sell it.

McGranaghan was on bail when he later went and tried to get into a mother-of-three’s Burnley home while she was washing up after lunch, on December 27.

Cragg, of Bar Street, Burnley, admitted burglary. His co-defendant, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and attempted burglary. Both were jailed for two years.

They are both drug addicts and McGranaghan had been on valium, amphetamine and prescribed methadone at the time, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said the victims found a panel removed from the front door frame.

Police, who were making enquiries, were contacted by the woman visited by the defendants and also by a second person, who said Cragg had attended her home with another man, trying to sell laptops.

Cragg left behind an electrical lead and that, with a watch strap he left at the other woman’s property, was identified as belonging to their victims.

Mr Parker said Cragg was arrested on September 18 and McGranaghan two days later. When interviewed, neither made any admissions.

The hearing was told the couple were extremely shocked and upset, particularly by the loss of an engagement ring which had belonged to a great grandmother of one of them and also university work and photos on a laptop. They were so distressed they had considered moving.

Richard Taylor, for Cragg, said: “This offence coincides with the time when the defendant had split up with his partner, had lost his job and his home and he, sadly resorted, as he had in the past, to taking illegal drugs. He’s got accommodation, he’s found employment and self-referred to Inspire.”

Defending McGranaghan, Lisa Roberts said he had offended to fund a long- standing drug habit. The death of his father had been preying on his mind.

Sentencing, Judge Anthony Russell, QC, told them they both had very bad criminal records. He continued: “Each of you is well old enough to realise you should not be committing offences of this kind.”