A FATHER-of-two from Padiham was shocked to find a burglar asleep on his sofa – and when he couldn’t wake him he called the police.

Mark Bell demanded to know what David Hodgson-Smith thought he was doing, after discovering him on a couch at his home in Cambridge Drive, Burnley Crown Court was told.

MORE TOP STORIES:

When officers arrived they were able to rouse Hodgson-Smith, who claimed he had been on a booze and amphetamines binge, and he was arrested, the court heard.

Hodgson-Smith, 30, of Melrose Avenue, Burnley, was jailed for 20 months after admitting two offences of burglary.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, said Mr Bell was awoken in the early hours by noises downstairs and was ‘shocked’ to find the defendant asleep on a sofa.

He returned upstairs to ask his wife if she had given permission for anyone to sleep on their couch and when she confirmed she hadn’t, he returned to his living room.

“Mr Bell tried to wake the male, who was asleep, but the only response he got was grunts, so he contacted the police,” said Ms Kehoe. It was apparent that there had been an untidy search of the kitchen.

Police arrived and managed to wake the intruder and a search of his pockets revealed a number of bank cards in the names of Danielle Ingham and Rebecca Morris. Hodgson-Smith had sneaked into a house in nearby Russell Terrace while they were asleep and stolen their handbags.

Interviewed by police later, Hodgson-Smith said he had little recollection of either break-in. He was aware he was going to be recalled to prison for breaking licence conditions, for a previous sentence, and he ‘just lost it’.

Richard Taylor, defending, said: “Speaking in conference with myself, the defendant said words to the effect that when his world falls apart, he resorts to amphetamines. In this case he resorted to alcohol and amphetamines.”

The defendant had been looking for something to eat or drink before he fell asleep on the sofa, added Mr Taylor.