6:27pm Friday 10th July 2009
By Wendy Barlow
A MAN is behind bars after admitting a burgalry spree in which he targeted 19 different properties.
Drug addict Philip Brearley, 25, was caught after he was spotted by a couple leaving their home with their TV set as they returned from a night out.
Brearley, of New Line, Bacup, was jailed for two and a half years at Burnley Crown Court, after owning up to the spree in which he raided 19 properties in Rossendale and Rochdale.
The defendant, of New Line, Bacup, admitted three burglary charges and asked for 16 similar offences to be considered.
Recorder Suzanne Goddard, QC, told the defendant in sentencing, that she accepted he had shown genuine remorse.
David Macro, prosecuting, told the court Brearley struck on January 20 at Westgate, Whitworth, at the home of a pensioner who was in hospital, taking a £500 LCD television, cash and jewellery. The jewellery was later recovered after it was sold to a pawn shop.
Seven days later Brearley smashed a glass panel in a door at a house on Hill Top, Whitworth, and stole a TV, laptop, jewellery and other property. He was caught out by his footwear impressions on the second raid and by his finger prints on the first.
Mr Macro said an elderly couple were returning home to Park Road, Rochdale, when they saw the defendant in their garden on April 20. The husband gave chase and a member of the public stepped in and joined the pursuit.
The defendant escaped, but was later arrested and fully admitted the offences.
The court heard he had a criminal record going back to the youth court.
David Tempkin, defending, said Brearley would not dream of doing anything like he had done if he was drug free.
Brearley had abused hard drugs for about five years. It was his first set of house burglaries and the properties were not occupied. At the time he had been living with a drug user and he had been spending £50 to £60 a day on heroin or crack cocaine.
Mr Tempkin said the defendant had been in custody nearly three months and on a short drugs programme.
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