A RAIDER who struck at a pensioner's home while she was visiting her husband in hospital is behind bars for 21 months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how former drug addict Roy White, 27, had seven previous convictions for burglary. Judge Raymond Bennett told him the public did not like people who did what he did -- and expected them to go to jail. He added the victim had had enough problems without her home being targeted.

White, of Mansfield Crescent, Brierfield, earlier admitted burglary with intent to steal at the couple's home in Nelson.

Andrew Brown, prosecuting, said the woman's next door neighbours heard her house alarm ringing just after midday and saw somebody walking down the front drive. One of the children recognised him as the father of somebody they knew and the defendant was later arrested nearby.

White had got into the house through a rear kitchen window which was insecure, but nothing had been taken. Footprints were found on the work surface and these matched the soles of the defendant's trainers. White admitted he had been in the area, but denied responsibility for the burglary.

Mr Brown added the defendant had served a custodial sentence since this offence and had seven previous convictions for burglary, the last one six years ago. Jacob Dyer, defending, said the offence was at the lower end of the burglary scale, was committed during the daytime, no damage was caused and nothing was taken. The house was unoccupied and the defendant took advantage of the fact a window wasn't shut property.

There was no doubt White had a bad record for dishonesty and that seemed to have escalated along with his drug abuse. He had been spending £40 or £50 a week on heroin and his offending had culminated in a five-year term of imprisonment in May, 1994. After that, his offending had perhaps not been as prolific as in the past.

Mr Dyer added custody was inevitable and justified. White was now drug-free since his release from custody in December last year and in April, he had left the home he shared with his girlfriend and gone to live with his mother. With the help of his mother and doctor, he had manage to undergo detoxification. The defendant had the support of both his mother and his father and was fortunate in that regard.

White's father had indicated he was prepared to offer him employment, which he had not been willing to do in the past. He clearly saw the change in his son. The defendant had not worked for nine years and had been involved in drugs for most of that time.

Mr Dyer urged the court to pass a community service sentence and said White, who had spent on month in custody on remand, knew that if he received a non-custodial sentence and breached it he would be brought back before the court.