A MAN with an addiction to drugs who resorted to committing crime against his own family, has been jailed for four years.

Stephen Veale, 28, of Lancaster Street, Blackburn, had been committed to Preston Crown Court for sentence by Blackburn magistrates for two burglary offences.

Mr Mark Ainsworth, prosecuting, told the court property worth £4,000 was taken from a house on Apple Close, Blackburn. Veale had then burgled the home of his girlfriend's uncle on Lancaster Street.

Veale had also asked for four other offences to be taken into consideration. Two were burglary offences, one involving his girlfriend's uncle. The other two offences were of theft when the victim was his mother.

Mr Richard Bennett, defending, said Veale had a "formidable" record set against a background of drug misuse.

Miss Recorder Beverley Lunt told Veale: "If you do not leave drugs alone, you will receive longer and longer sentences."