A MAN who sneaked into a woman’s house while her adult son was sleeping on the downstairs sofa and stole a flat screen TV has been jailed.

Preston Crown Court heard how Scott Walker, 31, also stole the keys to a white Vauxhall Vivaro van and attempted to drive the vehicle off the driveway of the victim’s property in Pringle Street, Blackburn.

Prosecuting, David Clarke said Walker, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, was unable to get the van off the property.

But at the time Walker was banned from driving so was charged by police with driving while disqualified, taking a vehicle without the consent of the owner, as well as burglary.

Mr Clarke said: “The victim lives with her children who are both in their mid 30s. On the evening of April 24, she went to bed around 11.30pm. Her adult son was asleep on the sofa in the living room. He has very significant problems with his hearing and at night he takes his hearing aids out.

“Before she goes to bed she normally makes sure he front door is locked but on this particular evening she thought her son had done so.

“In the middle of the night she heard the sound of her bedroom door being opened. She saw the landing light was on.

“She shouted out her son’s name but there was no reply. When she went out on to the landing she noticed her daughter’s bedroom door was open. She heard a cough from downstairs. She ran downstairs because at that stage she thought somebody might be in the house. The main front door was wide open. Her son was asleep on the sofa completely oblivious to what had gone on.”

Mr Clarke told the court that the victim woke up her son and they ran outside but there was no-one there. They checked CCTV footage from a CCTV camera which overlooks their house and saw Walker and a second unidentified man going into and out of the house carrying various items for around 45 minutes.

Among the items taken was a 60ins TV, two boxes of expensive chocolates which had been brought back from Dubai, two jackets and the keys to the van.

Walker, who has 21 convictions for 49 offences, was identified after police released a witness appeal, which was reported in the Lancashire Telegraph.

He pleaded guilty to burglary of a dwelling, driving while disqualified and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

Defending, Richard Prew said: “The pre-sentence report does paint a particularly bleak picture of Mr Walker.

“He simply asks me to say how very remorseful he is for what happened. He fully appreciates the seriousness of his position and the fact custody is almost inevitable.

“All this problems seem to stem from itinerant homelessness. He goes from pillar to post.

“He has to accept this sort of offence is absolutely despicable.”

Recorder David Potter jailed Walker for two years and endorsed his licence with three penalty points.

Recorder Potter said: “Burgling people’s houses at night is always a very serious offence. The premises were inevitably occupied at night. You must have seen one of the occupants asleep on the sofa when you entered. That runs the risk of a confrontation,

“The violation of people’s houses also leads to long-term complications for the victims who feel unable to live in their own home.”