A THIEF high on drugs broke into a funeral home and trampled on flowers put together for a service the following day.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Richard James Croskell, 30, also left his blood on fabric draped over a coffin after smashing his way through a window into Hartley Foulds Funeral Directors, Burnley.

Prosecutor Alistair Reid said Croskell, of Brennand Street, Burnley, had committed a series of burglaries at businesses across Burnley, including a solicitors office, a letting agency, a convenience store and a cafe, and was identified by police after nearly always leaving his blood at the scene.

The prosecutor said the first incident happened at Super Slow Way, Slater Terrace, Burnley, on February 16, when Croskell smashed a window with his hand and in the process left his blood at the scene. Although nothing was taken £87 of damage was caused.

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The next break-in happened at Mr Greens, Bull Street, Burnley, between March 21 and March 23.

Mr Reid said the business owner returned to the property at 8am on March 23 to find a window had been smashed and an interior door kicked in. Although £200 had been taken from the till, Croskell, who was captured on CCTV, had caused around £4,000 of damage.

The court heard that between April 13 and 14 the defendant had used a knife or screwdriver to smash a window at The Gym Cafe, Keirby Walk, Burnley, and stole £120. During the raid Croskell had cut himself and police used his blood to identify him as the burglar.

The court heard that on April 21 residents John Stubbs and Tracey Murray awoke to find Croskell attempting to break into the downstairs of their rented property. Having smashed a downstairs window with a sock covering his hand the court heard the burglar had been disturbed by the residents and ran from the scene. But in the process he had dropped the blood stained sock and police were able to identify him from that.

Mr Reed said that on April 24 Croskell broke into Local Lettings, Briercliffe Road, Burnley, but left empty-handed. However having broken a window to get in he left his blood at the scene.

The court heard three days later he smashed a window to get into Marsden Solicitors, Colne, Road, Burnley, and stole £200. Police found his blood at the scene.

Croskell also broke into the One Stop Store in Colne Road, Burnley, in separate raids on May 5 and May 11. During the first incident he was caught on CCTV stealing two charity boxes and £100 in scratchcards. During the second raid he stole £320 of scratchcards.

Croskell, who has 53 convictions for 90 offences, pleaded guilty to five burglaries, three burglaries with intent, one attempted burglary of a dwelling and two counts of breeching a suspended sentence.

Defending, Fiona Clancy, said at the time of the offences her client had relapsed into taking heroin and amphetamine in conjunction with the Temazepam, which had been prescribed to him for his mental health issues. Ms Clancy said as a result of combining the drugs her client woke up with cuts on his hands and had no idea how they got there.

She added: “He is extremely remorseful and sorry in relation to these matters. He is particularly remorseful for the funeral home offence.”

Judge, Mr Recorder Harry Narayan, jailed Croskell for 21 months.