A PROLIFIC burglar who raided a snooker club and motor business has been jailed.

Burnley Crown Court heard Michael David Dwyer, from Nelson, faces prison after burgling the Alexandria Snooker Centre in Nelson and stealing cash and later burgling the North Valley Motors in Colne with intent to steal.

Wearing socks on his hands, Dwyer, of Beddington Street, Nelson, broke into the Holme Street snooker centre at around 4.30am on May 18.

He used a crowbar to attack two gaming machines and stole an estimated £500 from each of them, causing £8,700 worth of damage to centre.

The owner has said they will have to replace the snooker hall’s door, shutters and the two gaming machines.

Prosecuting Isobel Thomas said: “The owner from the snooker hall has said he is suffering from stress.

"The hall has been targeted again since the burglary took place and he said both he and his wife feel anxious. He is worried it will happen again.”

The court then heard that the 35-year-old had broken into Colne's North Valley Motors, Burnley Road, just three weeks later.

The owner had left the garage to go home for the weekend at around 5.15pm from Friday, June 1 to Monday, June 4 after conducting the usual routine of locking up and putting the alarm system on.

North Valley Motors was broken into by Dwyer who stole around £400 from a cash tin in the offices at around 4.30am on Sunday, June 3.

After stealing the cash he returned to the premises six-and-a-half hours later and searched the office allegedly looking for any CCTV videos. He caused £800 worth of damage to the garage and the owner has to get a replacement door.

The two offences occurred shortly after he was released from prison after serving a sentence for burglary. Dwyer, who has received 99 convictions and 210 offences, and first offended in 1994, when he was just 11 years old.

Defence barrister Kevin Donnelly said: “There is no one to help him or help himself. He has a brother who allows him to live with him for a few days.

"Dwyer does not have any access to finance or any benefit claim and it means he can’t borrow money anywhere else and so he commits offences to buy food and necessities.

"He is 34 and he has said this it not the lifestyle he wants to lead.”

Jailing Dwyer for three years, Judge Sarah Dodd described the crimes as ‘brazen’ and said they caused an ‘enormous’ amount of financial damage to his victims.

She said: “These are not victimless crimes. These people run a business and make an honest living, something which is totally alien to you.”