2:09pm Wednesday 17th March 2010
By Wendy Barlow
A PROLIFIC burglar who struck at 10 houses in Burnley in a thieving spree has been jailed for four years.
Cocaine addict John Barnes, 20, broke into a single mother of five’s home as her family slept after silencing their dog with biscuits and food. He made off with a television, laptops, games and one of the children’s cars was driven away. The victims were left frightened to sleep at night, the town’s crown court heard.
Barnes, father of a baby, also ransacked the home of a second single mum after she went on a day out.
When he was arrested and questioned, he made no comment but later owned up.
The defendant, of Parkinson Street, Burnley, admitted two burglaries and asked for nine offences to be considered.
Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said eight were house burglaries where boilers, copper piping or flags had been the target; one was the Conservative Club in Branch Road.
The defendant was rumbled through forensic evidence and because he asked a friend to store one of the stolen TVs at her property. Richard Taylor, for the defendant, said Barnes, who had learning problems, had a difficult upbringing.
His father, said Mr Taylor, had “innumerable convictions and has received innumerable sentences.” The defendant was not a violent young man. He was proud of the fact he had a job in the kitchens at Lancaster Farms Young Offenders’ Institution.
Mr Taylor said Barnes had told him: “I want to apologise. I need to grow up and be a good dad.”
Judge Beverley Lunt said: “They are serious offences and there must be a custodial sentence.”
The judge added the defendant had a partner who supported him and would be left looking after their baby.
She told Barnes: “It’s you who should be thinking of them and not me.”
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