AN EAGLE-eyed neighbour turned detective and helped catch a thief after he raided an 80-year-old woman's home, a court heard.

Peter MacGregor, 64, trailed and took a photo of prolific criminal Nicholas Mulcahy after he spotted him coming out of the victim's rear garden on Bacup Road, Rawtenstall.

He watched as Mulcahy caught a bus to Bacup, took the bus number and alerted police, who stopped the vehicle and arrested the defendant.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Mulcahy, 36, a chronic drug addict, had £127 on him and when he was taken to the police station the bus was searched and jewellery was found near to where he had been sitting. The haul was identified by the victim as belonging to her.

The defendant, who has almost 20 previous convictions for burglary or attempted burglary, was jailed for 30 months. The defendant, of Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, admitted burglary on September 14.

Recorder Mark Chambers, QC, told Mulcahy, who was released from a 40 month jail term in August last year, that he had an 'appalling' record.

He said: "You can imagine the distress that it must have caused the 80-year-old lady. For something like this to happen to her must have been quite traumatic. A public spirited neighbour saw you, you were apprehended and all the items were recovered."

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, said the victim was out at the time of the day-time offence.

Martin Hackett, for Mulcahy, said he had a long-standing drug addiction, had had nowhere to go and very much to his regret he committed the offence.

After his release from custody her had not reoffended until two weeks ago. He had now been recalled.

He was genuinely sorry for what he had done and for any distress that he had caused the elderly victim. The barrister added the defendant had a family to support him on his release.