A thief who crept into a family home as a father and his daughter slept in their beds is behind bars for two years.

Engineer-turned-drug addict Scott Morrison, 32, who made off with his victim Steve Martin's treasured army medals, was caught out after leaving a jacket and footprints at the scene but even then insisted he had nothing to do with the raid.

Mr Martin's four-year old daughter had heard noises in the middle of the night but was too frightened to get out of bed and tell her dad, Burnley Crown Court heard. Morrison, of Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, admitted burglary last August.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting, told the court Mr Martin had left a small window open as a tumble dryer was on downstairs at his Chapel Street, Nelson, home.

He went to bed at about 9pm and when he awoke at 5.50am, the house felt cold and he found his wallet had been thrown in the living room. Cupboards and drawers had been gone through and the window was wide open.

Mr Martin discovered a DVD player, £90 cash, a mobile phone, jewellery, cigarettes and food and drink had been taken.

Also missing were the victim's Army General Services Medal and his Falklands Campaign Medal, which were of particular sentimental value to Mr Martin.

Mr McEntee said: "He expresses his concern that somebody should be able to enter while he was in the property but he was particularly concerned somebody should have been in the house when his four-year old daughter was in bed asleep.

"When he spoke to her about the incident she says she heard a noise in the middle of the night but was too frightened to get out of bed to go and tell him."

The prosecutor said a jacket was found at the house and Morrison's DNA was found on it. Footprints were left on a bin and matched his footwear. Morrison still protested his innocence despite the evidence.

Mr McEntee said the defendant had 67 previous convictions, including offences of burglary and had been to prison before.

Hugh Barton, defending, said the offence was serious and mean.

Mr Barton said Morrison dabbled in drugs after family problems. After that he got the depressing record all too familiar of somebody with a long-standing heroin addiction.