A LONG-TIME criminal, who stole from a blind pensioner in a late-night raid on her home, is behind bars for six years.

Christopher Ormerod Sears, 39, confronted the 86-year-old woman in her bedroom. He claimed her door had been open and that he had gone in to see if she was all right.

He was caught red-handed after worried neighbours alerted the police and the victim later found £45 cash missing from her purse, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Sentencing the defendant, Judge Edward Slinger said he was a professional burglar and had been convicted on overwhelming evidence. The judge said the offence was appalling, as was Sears' criminal record, and it was his duty to protect the public.

Sears, of Dane Street, Burnley, had been convicted of burglary by a jury after a trial. He denied the charge.

Iain Simkin, prosecuting, had told the court the pensioner, who was registered blind and lived alone in Burnley, had gone upstairs to get ready for bed.

She was in her bedroom when the defendant walked in and told her the door was open. The victim said she did not think so.

Sears told the woman he had been walking past but had gone in to see if she was all right. The complainant could not see what the defendant looked like and thought he might be a neighbour. She could make out he was a tall man but could not see his features.

The prosecutor said Sears went downstairs and the pensioner followed him down on her chairlift. By the time she got to the bottom a police officer was in the woman's bedroom and told her she had been burgled.

The woman then checked her purse and handbag and found two £20 notes and one £5 note had gone missing.

The court was told police had been called alerted by worried neighbours living across the street from the victim, who had seen a man shining a torch into the back of the woman's home.