A PRIEST came face to face with an intruder in his kitchen after the back door of his house was kicked in.

Burnley magistrates heard how Darren Quinn, 21 twice targeted Father Michael Haworth's Nelson home and was found by the table where the priest kept his housekeeping money.

Quinn, of Robert Street, Nelson, admitted burglary, two counts of theft and failing to surrender and was committed to Burnley Crown Court for sentence in custody.

Julie Reddish, prosecuting, told the court Father Haworth was sitting in his lounge on Vulcan Street, when he saw somebody come into the yard on the CCTV cameras. He alerted the police, but before they arrived, he heard bang and his back door was kicked in.

The priest went into the kitchen and saw the men on the camera standing by the table where he kept money.

The complainant asked Quinn to stay where he was as police were on their way and he did. Officers arrived and arrested the defendant. When he was interviewed, he made full admissions.

Miss Reddish said the offence was aggravated by the fact the house was occupied, confrontation took place and it was the second time Quinn had burgled the property.

Brian Irlam, defending, said the offence took place in the afternoon, in daylight, no tools were used and was unprofessional an unsophisticated. Quinn sat down when told to do so by the priest.

He went on: "There was no violence, no aggression and no other aggravating feature. Police arrived, he was taken away and that was the end of it."

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