A DRUNKEN house breaker who shinned up a drainpipe before leaving empty-handed as his victim was downstairs, has gone to jail for eight months.

Andrew Partington, 28, who struck after taking a mixture of the anti-depressant drug Prozac and alcohol, had intended to steal, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Sentencing Partington, who has never been to prison before, Judge Raymond Bennett asked him what he would expect to happen to anybody who broke into his home. He added any right-minded person would think Partington ought to lose his liberty.

Partington, of Spencer Street, Burnley, admitted burglary.

The court heard the victim was downstairs in the front room of his home in Brierfield, when he heard noises.

He went into the hallway and was passed by the defendant. Partington then went to a nearby house and was stopped on the way home along a canal by police.

Partington immediately admitted his responsibility for the burglary and was taken to the police station.

He said he could not remember much about what had happened, because he had been drunk.

Mark Stuart, defending, said Partington's background was "rather a sad tale". It was sad somebody of his age should appear before the court, because people who started lives of crime usually did so in their teens.

Partington had had a drink problem for about ten years and had been trying to break the cycle of binge drinking. He had periods of depression and the more depressed he became, the more he drank.

Mr Stuart said Partington's GP had prescribed him Prozac and he had taken the drug with drink before he committed the offence.

Partington had gone into the house, and had a vague recollection of coming downstairs without taking anything.

Partington did not attempt to run away from the police.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.