Jail term for Pendle addict thief (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Jail term for Pendle addict thief

4:30pm Thursday 21st June 2012 in Burnley

A PROLIFIC crook who has been locked up for three years wants to go into a Buddhist monastery when he comes out, a court was told.

“Lonely” Ash Love, 36, who has more than 80 offences on his record, a 15-year heroin addiction and mental health issues, had been into the retreat before and thought it might help.

Love was caught red-handed raiding an unoccupied house in Brierfield.

He and an accomplice had taken all the radiators off the walls and were in the process of removing the boiler, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The hearing was told the defendant had a tool bag by his side and was found with a penknife, lock knife, chisel and crowbar.

Love, of Halifax Road, Nelson, currently on the psychiatric wing in custody, had admitted burglary.

Police were called to the property, on Commercial Street, after reports of a noise at 1am and found Love trying to hide behind the boiler.

One man escaped through the front downstairs window.

Considerable damage had been caused.

Police tried to question the defendant, but he was unre-ceptive and his behaviour on arrest and in the custody suite at Burnley Police Station was described as “rather strange.”

Love had committed 82 previous offences and had a long record for burglary.

Richard Taylor, for Love, said he had been recalled to prison for 28 days.

He said: “On his release from custody, he gravitates back to this area, where his parents still live and he gravitates back to his old associates.

"He has an extremely lonely life. He doesn't make friends very easily and, sadly, has found it easier to cope using drugs.”

Recorder Susan Grocott said: “It would appear that despite all the assistance given to you, you choose to return to heroin.”