A BURGLAR who raided a house around the corner from his own home was caught red-handed.

And he lied about what he had been up to, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Christopher Moore, 34, was found crouching down next to the television when the victim returned to his home in Fleet Street, Nelson.

But the burglar claimed he had seen a lad running out of the property.

Moore, of Regent Street, Nelson, admitted burglary and had been committed for sentence by Burnley magistrates.

He walked free from court after a judge said the raid was "wholly unsophisticated".

Moore was given 52 weeks in jail, suspended for two years, with 12 months supervision.

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt told him: "Burglars are detestable. They create an atmosphere of fear for everybody."

She added that Moore had not committed burglary for 16 years.

Michael Murray, prosecuting, said the victim had returned home in January at about 11pm and found his front door open.

Moore was crouching next to the TV set and when asked what he was doing, he said he had seen a lad running out of the house and up the street.

The victim did not believe that and called police.

Bob Elias, defending, said the offence was opportunist and rather low-grade.

The defendant committed it no doubt in drink, lived around the corner and was bound to have been recognised.

Moore provided too many excuses rather than sensible reasons for why he struck.

The barrister added that a community sentence or suspended sentence might be the appropriate penalty.