A RAIDER struck twice in one day at an old people's sheltered accommodation after conning his way in.

Burnley Crown Court heard how drug addict Keith Kavanagh, 37, was allowed into the Bannister Court complex after telling a resident he was visiting his gran.

One horrified pensioner woke from an afternoon nap to find Kavanagh standing over her and later discovered three rings worth £600 were missing.

Another shocked resident saw him in her doorway and he later told police he was looking for cash and items to steal.

Kavanagh, who also struck at the home of a Nelson mother of two and at his brother's house, was jailed for 27 months.

The mother, Victoria Ingrams and her young sons were in the public gallery to see him sentenced and as he was led away from the dock, the defendant told her: "If I have hurt anybody in this room I am truly sorry."

Judge Christopher Cornwall told Kavanagh custody was inevitable and he had to have regard for the public interest.

Kavanagh of Princess Street, Nelson, had admitted two burglary charges and had been committed for sentence by Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Magistrates. He asked for four house burglaries to be considered.

Maisie Burke, prosecuting, told the court the defendant forced a window at his brother Paul's house and took £81 property worth. He told police his brother would not help him in the past.

Kavanagh attacked Mrs Ingrams' home in Nelson after she took her family for a day out. An eagle- eyed neighbour alerted police and they arrived to find the defendant under the bed and the property ransacked.

Kavanagh had two previous convictions for burglary.

Alex Leach, defending, said Kavanagh had an "entrenched and destructive" hard drug habit and offended to fund it.

He was genuinely sorry for what he had done.