A BURGLAR has been given a month to 'behave himself' - and possibly save himself from his first custodial sentence.

Darren Quinn, 20, who broke into two homes in Nelson, was told by Judge Reginald Lockett that the chances for the bench were 'stark.'

He sent Quinn to a bail hostel until July 1 and told him to abide by the rules.

He said: "We are not making any promises to you. If you don't behave yourself, you will be going to a young offenders institution."

Quinn, who is from the Nelson area, but has been staying at a hostel in Liverpool, had admitted two burglaries and been committed for sentence by Burnley magistrates.

Karim Sabry, prosecuting, said Quinn broke into a house in Bradley Road West and took property, including jewellery, to the tune of £920. He stole goods worth £750 from a second property.

Robert Crawford, defending, said Quinn had never been convicted of burglary, nor received a custodial sentence. When he was 17 or 18, after his mother formed a relationship with a man he didn't get on with, Quinn had left home and had "stood on his own feet before he could crawl." He had gone from pillar to post for accommodation and got involved in drugs.

He had taken an overdose, which may have been partly a cry for help. He was not a professional burglar and had not got an extensive record.

Mr Crawford said the defendant had been put on a methadone prescription at the hostel and his mother felt, compared with the person he was, he had vastly improved.

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