A burglar who diced with death whilst raiding a Burnley sub- station has been locked up for eight months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Ronald Houghton, 56, who had left hundreds of homes without power, was caught from DNA off a cigarette end. Houghton, who had been with an accomplice, had forced his way into the targeted premises on Sycamore Avenue on January 5.

The hearing was told an engineer from Electricity North West had arrived to find live equipment, which carried 11,000 volts, being removed. Houghton could have ended up dead or badly burned. He was picked out on an identity parade by the engineer, had been arrested and made no comment.

Houghton, who left a £5,000 trail of damage,had been on bail at the time, after invading an empty house to get copper piping. He and his associate Jason Mansfield, 35, admitted burglary and Houghton also pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal at the sub- station. They had been committed for sentence by magistrates.

The hearing was told Houghton, of Kime Street, Burnley, was heavily convicted. Mansfield, of Florence Street, Burnley, received a 12 month community order with supervision, after a judge said he had " deep- seated problems," and needed help.

Richard Taylor, for Houghton, said he was " inadequate," had had significant problems over the years and had committed nuisance offences.

He had been in debt and thought the only way out was to go out intending to steal the boiler from the house and burgling the sub- station. The solicitor continued :" He was very, very uncomfortable whilst in the sub- station."

Sentencing, Recorder Roderick Carus, QC, said Houghton could have killed himself or been badly burned. The judge said the theft of metals was becoming prevalent in " these difficult times for people," and sub- stations and other such places were particularly vulnerable to the sort of attacks he had carried out.

Recorder Carus said of the sentence :" This is designed to act as a deterrent so that others will not follow your lead."