A HOUSE breaker who targeted an elderly widower --and a second victim who was at a funeral -- was trapped by footprints of blood left at the scene.

Andrew McKee, of Barnes Street, Clayton-le-Moors, was sentenced to 16 months in prison despite pleas from his barrister, who said he was more of a nuisance than a hardened criminal.

Recorder Simon Newell said his primary duty was to protect the public. He told Burnley Crown Court the offences crossed the custody threshold and the defendant had to go to prison.

McKee admitted allegations of burglary, theft, threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and criminal damage. He was committed for sentence by Hyndburn magistrates.

The court heard how one burglary victim, who also lived in Barnes Street, left his home in September and returned the next day to find a window had been smashed and property worth £450 taken. Blood was found on the window and police got a swab from the broken glass and sent it off for analysis.

McKee then struck at the home of an elderly widower, who had gone to stay with his family, and left footprints. He helped himself to a £1,292 haul. When police later searched the defendant's home they noticed very distinctive footwear and his shoes were seized. His footprints and DNA were later found to identify the defendant as a suspect.

McKee was later arrested and interviewed. He denied both burglaries but forensic analysis by that time had proved a complete match. The court also heard McKee struck while another victim was at a funeral, taking property worth £230.

He caused criminal damage by smashing two windows at a property with a baseball bat and on another occasion was captured on CCTV in a heated row with another man. Richard Hunt, defending, said McKee, who had a psychiatric history, anticipated prison and mitigation would be addressed at how long the term should be. The defendant had an unenviable record but since his release from a two-year jail term had tried to stay out of trouble. He had been "sucked back in" but his level of crime had dropped and, more recently, McKee had been committing nuisance offences.

Mr Hunt said the defendant had moved to Clayton-le-Moors and had not received the medical treatment he had when he lived in Rossendale. When McKee was given appropriate help, he could be a more worthwhile and almost law-abiding member of society. On the face of it he was always going to be a public nuisance, but locking him away may not be the answer.