A criminal said to have had plagued the police and residents of Burnley got a chance to pull his socks up - and promised a judge he would not waste it.

The town's crown court had heard how Jeffrey Graham, 29, who has drink and drugs problems, raided a Burnley family's home and "cleaned it out" in the small hours, but couldn't remember doing it.

The defendant had "struck lucky" when he found almost £800 in cash in the premises.

Graham, who has a long criminal record but has not committed a break-in for 10 years, sobbed in the dock as Recorder John Hand QC told him he was giving him a chance.

The judge said he took a very dim view of the defendant's conduct and would normally have locked him up for 18 months but he was giving him help to get his life sorted.

He told Graham: "Your record causing problems for the citizens and police of Burnley when you have been drunk and drugged is disgraceful. It's high time you pulled yourself together."

Graham, of Cairo Street, Burnley, admitted burglary. He was given 51 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months.