A CONVICTED burglar who smashed up two cars outside Burnley Central station so he could be locked up and receive help has got his wish.

Jamie Franks, 31, was found pacing up and down the platform by police after damaging two vehicles parked in m nearby Station Road and Railway Street, the town's crown court was told.

Prosecutor Judith McCullough said motorist Michael Lafferty returned to his car on Station Road, on January 23, to find the driver's side wing mirror had been ripped off. He also discovered his wing mirror had been damaged.

Another vehicle owner, who had parked on Railway Street, was sat in his Volkswagen Golf when Franks kicked the side of his car.

The victim was left scared by the experience, before Franks walked off, and his car suffered damage totalling £300.

Miss McCullough said when the defendant was arrested he told officers that he had carried out the attacks because he wanted to be sent to prison, where he would "get help". He apologised for his behaviour and insisted he had not wanted to hurt anyone, which was why he selected the cars instead.

Franks, of no fixed address, admitted to two offences of criminal damage and being in breach of a suspended prison sentence, imposed last October. Judge Graham Knowles QC jailed him for 10 months.

Miss McCullough said the suspended sentence was imposed for two burglaries, carried out last September. The victim of the first break-in, on discovering the burglary, posted a message on Facebook, to alert her neighbours.

Another resident, on checking her property, discovered she had also been targeted and Franks was found asleep inside her flat, the court heard.

Robert Elias, defending, said: "I erroneously thought it was only in Hollywood that people got themselves arrested in order to receive help.

"This is a defendant who tells me he has flourished since he has been locked up.

"He is now drug-free and has been tested for that. Alcohol is his real problem and he has been placed in a recovery unit in prison."

Franks had been undertaking courses and planned to move down south, to avoid temptation, when released, added Mr Elias.