A prolific burglar has once again been sent to jail for breaking into a nursery and then attempting to burgle someone’s house in the middle of the day.

Martin Harrington, 45, has a lengthy record consisting of 61 convictions for 127 offences, many for burglary, theft and dishonesty.

Burnley Crown Court heard that on August 18 last year, Harrington was caught inside a nursery with a carrier bag containing some ketchup and barbecue lighter fluid.

Lancashire Telegraph: Martin HarringtonMartin Harrington (Image: Lancs Police)

Prosecuting, Laura Nelson said at around 10.20pm on the date in question, a man had been walking back from the prayer hall when he noticed some lights on in Olive Tree Nursery, Colne Road in Burnley.

Ms Nelson said: “The man knew the nursery was closed as it was the school holidays, so he approached and entered the building through the front door.

“He went up the stairs and noticed a number of items had been rummaged through. He then got to where the manager’s office was and found the defendant putting some ketchup and barbecue lighter fluid into a bag.

“He began filming the defendant and said he was going to call the police.

“The defendant then left before the police arrived.”

Ms Nelson said the man had recognised Harrington as he had tried to break into the nursery some 12 months previous, with one of the attending officers also recognising him.

Less than a month later, and before he was able to be apprehended, Harrington, of Stockbridge Road, Burnley, attempted to enter a property on Todmorden Road.

The householder said she had arrived back home at around 5.30pm on September 11 and upon reviewing her CCTV saw Harrington make his way into her garden and down the side of the house before trying the front door handle.

He was unable to gain access but the homeowner decided to phone the police, with the same officer attending and again identifying Harrington as the offender.

He was arrested and pleaded guilty at Burnley Magistrates’ Court.

Defending, Mark Stuart said his client had never been given anything but custodial sentences for his past offending and mitigated for a non-custodial sentence to see if a community order or other could aid in his rehabilitation. 

However, Judge Ian Unsworth said his previous convictions significantly aggrevated the case and jailed Harrington for 10 months.