EAST Lancashire's top judge has warned householders to keep their doors locked at all times -- but added that the advice was a sad reflection on society today.

Judge Raymond Bennett made his comments after he sentenced burglar David Wallace to two years in jail for two offences.

The defendant's 76-year-old victim had awoken in his chair at his home in Bacup to find the defendant taking his wallet from his pocket. The judge said the pensioner, targeted during the day, was brought up in an age where it was quite common for people to leave their front and back doors unlocked.

It was also quite common for people to go into other people's houses without there being any suggestion of theft.

He went on: "It is sad, these days, that householders have to lock their front and back doors, even if they are in the house or in the garden."

Wallace, who then went on to raid an other house had earlier admitted two burglaries.

The defendant, 26, of Pennine Road, Bacup, said to have descended into drugs and crime after the death of his mother, had previous convictions for burglary.

David Temkin, defending, said Wallace knew he would go to custody. The question was how long the sentence would be.

He said the offence took place in the middle of the day, there was no violence and there was no suggestion the defendant shook the victim, threatened him or had any contact with him. Wallace told police he had taken a cocktail of drugs and had offended in a "moment of madness."

Mr Temkin said the second offence, five weeks later, was an opportunist burglary

There were no threats, no violence and Wallace made no attempt to disguise himself.