A DRUG user who broke into his dealer’s house and stole cannabis when he found he wasn’t at home has been jailed for five months.

Aziel Sweeney, 24, had called around to the home in Manchester Road, Nelson, to purchase drugs, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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But when he discovered no-one was at home Sweeney, of Larch Street, Nelson, broke into the premises and helped himself, the court heard.

Judge Beverley Lunt jailed him after he admitted burglary.

The court heard Sweeney had been on licence from a previous offence when he committed the Manchester Road burglary and he had effectively been behind bars for 16 months.

Judge Lunt said that he had already served longer in custody than the offence itself merited, meaning that the sentence imposed would allow for his immediate release from custody.

Sarah Forrest, defending, said: “The reality is that he is 24 and when he is released he will be coming out with very little support. He would definitely benefit from some sort of support package.”

Questioned by Judge Lunt about what happened to the cannabis dealer, prosecutor Robert Elias told the court the man had received a police caution for his activities.