Prolific burglar raided Accrington house as owners slept (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Prolific burglar raided Accrington house as owners slept

5:00pm Friday 15th June 2012 in Crime news

A CAREER raider who struck at a family home in Accrington, as his victims slept, is back behind bars — this time for two-and-a-half years.

Father-of-one Gary Goodill, 38, was caught after leaving a trail of blood in the terrace house in Persia Street.

He was arrested, but he told the police he could not remember much about invading the property as he had been drinking heavily, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Goodill, said by a judge to have a ‘very bad record for house burglary’, had since been recalled on a three-and-a half-year jail term, imposed in 2009, for breaking into someone’s home.

The defendant, from Accrington, but of no fixed address, had 70 previous convictions, going back to 1988. He admitted burglary with intent to steal, in April.

The court heard the victims went to bed about midnight, but the son of the family was sleeping on the settee.

At about 10am, the son woke his father to say a window was open and a sports rucksack had been moved. It looked as if someone had climbed in through the window.

The bag was on the floor, the lining had been cut open and blood was on the floor and bag. Nothing had been taken.

The blood was found to match the defendant’s. He was arrested and said he had been drinking heavily.

Katherine Pierpoint, defending, said he had an ‘appalling’ record for burglary. She said: “It seems alcohol was the problem on this night. He appreciates the only sentence today will be one of custody.”

Miss Pierpoint said the householders would clearly have been upset by what happened.

She said: “The defendant has a long-suffering wife, who still stands by him.”

Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Gibson said Goodill had been recalled for 28 days. He said: “This was a house burglary which took place at night. I accept you were probably drunk.”