TWO prolific burglars who targeted and ransacked a man’s home in Burnley have been jailed for a total of almost six years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how drug addicts Colin Raw, 44, and Steven Rickwood, 38, were caught red-handed breaking into the house on Pritchard Street in the early hours.

Raw was on bail when he struck while his accomplice had appeared in the magistrates' court the day before.

Raw, of Arran Street, and Rickwood, of Cog Lane, both Burnley, admitted burglary on May 9.

Raw, who had also been committed for sentence after being convicted of the second burglary, was jailed for three years two months.

Rickwood was sent to prison for two years five months.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said that the victim's house was mainly boarded up after a break-in just weeks earlier, except for a glass panel in the back door.

He had gone to stay with his girlfriend and just after 2am police received a call to say two men were burgling the property.

Officers found the glass panel had been smashed and could hear noises.

They went in and found both defendants, each carrying a holdall. Rickwood was wearing latex gloves and both were under the influence of either drink of drugs.

The holdalls contained clothing, a passport and some personal papers belonging to the victim.

Miss Statham said Raw claimed the bag belonged to him. Rickwood told police he had just been looking to get his head down.

Raw went on to raid an empty house on Nairne Street, Burnley, in June when the boiler, copper piping and sinks were ripped out causing £2,000 in damage.

Miss Statham said Raw had 24 convictions for house burglary and his co-defendant had “numerous”.

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt told the pair they had not been deterred “in the slightest” by the fact the house had been someone's home.