A PROLIFIC house burglar has been sent to Coventry - in the hope of keeping him drug-free and protecting the public.

Michael O'Brien, who has more than 70 previous convictions, had been on remand, was no longer taking drugs, and had a place waiting at the police-run Tower Project, a rehabilitation programme, Burnley Crown Court heard.

O'Brien, who had been facing five years behind bars, got a chance to show he means business, and wants to kick his habit for good, when he was freed by a judge.

O'Brien was sent to live at the project in the Midlands, but was warned by Judge Michael Byrne although he had earned it, if he flouted the order he would be locked up for not less than five years.

O'Brien, 33, of Branch Road, Burnley, admitted two house burglaries, attempted theft, and asked for one offence to be considered.

He was given a three-year community order, with three years supervision, on condition he lives at Murray Lodge, Coventry.

Sentencing, Judge Byrne said the defendant had an "alarming number of burglaries" on his record, and it was quite clear sentences in the past had not acted as a deterrent.

The judge said his first consideration was not the defendant, but the public.

He added the court was right to recognise his achievement of getting drug-free when so many others couldn't.

Judge Byrne told O'Brien: "You have managed to achieve this chance I am going to give you."

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said a neighbour of a victim in Branch Road alerted the owner who returned just before midnight to find O'Brien in his back yard.

The defendant, who had a screwdriver and was wearing both woollen and latex gloves, was detained by the occupant after a struggle.

O'Brien was remanded in custody and interviewed about two burglaries.

One was in Branch Road, when the occupants returned in the early hours to find their home has been untidily searched', after a back window had been removed.

Jewellery and a mobile phone were missing. The defendant's footprints were found on a box.

Miss Statham said 0'Brien also burgled the Plumbe Street, Burnley, home of three elderly brothers after midnight.

They got up at 6am and were caused a great deal of distress when they realised their home had been raided.