A CAREER criminal who raided a hardware store was caught after a police dog followed a scent back to his home.

Burnley magistrates heard how officers found two laptop computers hidden under Darren Storer's pillow after the dog had led them to his front door.

Storer, 35, of Granby Street, who has 174 previous convictions, was jailed for 120 days after admitting burglary.

David Hartley, prosecuting, told the court a hardware store on Padiham Road, Burnley, was broken into in the early hours and police were alerted by a member of the public.

CCTV evidence showed a man running away from the scene.

Officers made their way to Granby Street as they thought Storer might be the culprit. They knocked at the door but there was no reply A police dog then picked up a scent from the burgled premises which led to Storer's door. Police decided to force their way into the house and found the defendant, his girlfriend and two children.

They discovered a jacket which looked like the one on the CCTV and when they searched the house they found two laptops hidden under a pillow.

Storer was questioned, claimed he had been in bed all night and said a man had entered the house with the computers while he had been to the toilet.

He would not name whoever he was, suggesting had brought the laptops.

The prosecutor said Storer was questioned again and maintained he was not responsible. The defendant had an "horrendous" record and had had "many, many custodial sentences," he added.

Mark Williams, defending, said Storer had served 10 years-worth of prison terms. He had been in trouble since he was a boy.

Mr Williams said: "He stayed out of trouble until he was 12 and then he has been in trouble for 23 years. It is not easy just to change that lifestyle very quickly but he's working on it."