A HOUSEHOLDER was woken at midnight by the sound of a burglar forcing open his front door, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Ivan Parker noted a car registration number and rang the police, and officers later found his television and video recorder in the back of the vehicle after driver Jackie Mee ran off.

Mee, 30, of Nairne Street, Burnley, was jailed for a total of two years, after admitting burglary and being in breach of an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

Sentencing Mee - whose victim has since died after a blaze at his home - Judge Raymond Bennett said there was no suggestion his death had anything to do with the burglary, but it was very frightening to have your door booted in, in the middle of the night.

He added Mee had 15 previous convictions for burglary, although it was right to say he had been slowing down over the last few years.

Michael Murray, prosecuting, said Mr Parker lived alone at Clay Street, Burnley, and was woken by a loud bang. He went downstairs, found the living room light on and the front door open.

Mr Parker saw a car parked nearby and the back of a man wearing an anorak. The defendant got into a car and drove off. Mr Parker rang the police and realised his television and video recorder had been stolen.

About ten minutes later, two police officers saw the car being driven slowly, without lights, by Mee.

He stopped, was abusive when an officer banged on a window, and drove off at an increasing speed.

Police followed with lights and horn activated and Mee stopped the vehicle and ran off.

He was chased and caught and Mr Parker's property was found in the back of the car.

Mr Murray said that when he was arrested, Mee said a man had approached him with the television and video recorder and asked him to take them to the canal for him

Dennis Watson, defending, said Mee had been in custody for three-and-a-half months.

He had pleaded guilty to burglary, knowing Mr Parker was not able to give evidence.

Mee had not confronted the victim, nor offered violence towards him.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.