A PROLIFIC crook caught with the proceeds of a night-time raid on a family home has been jailed for 15 months.

Drug addict Christopher Bennett, 31, was picked up by police within three hours of the break-in being discovered at the house in the Burnley area.

He had the victims' property, including bank cards on him. When challenged, he gave police the name of the perpetrator of the raid.

Bennett, who was subject to a 12-month suspended sentence for burglary at the time, had breached it twice.

He had also smashed a window at his ex-partner's home with a hammer, the town’s crown court was told.

Bennett, said by his solicitor to have an ‘appalling record’, had originally been charged with burglary, but admitted handling stolen goods on September 20.

The defendant, of Bear Street, Burnley, was given a total of three months in jail for the offence and Judge Andrew Woolman activated the 12 months of the suspended term. He had also been convicted of criminal damage and had been committed for sentence by magistrates.

Kristian Cavanagh, for Bennett, said he had been in custody for nearly three months and had engaged with the drugs services while on remand.