Stuart Stansfield claimed he was collecting for charity

A burglar who raided two homes in Ashton and one on Fulwood said he was trying to get himself a better place to live when he set about his stealing spree.

Stuart Stansfield, 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of dwelling house burglary after being caught by the 73-year-old householder as he fled the scene.

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Stansfield, of Fylde Road, Ashton, broke into the houses in Waterloo Road and Rose Terrace after seeing the householders leaving in their cars shortly after 1pm on March 13.

He stole a TV from the garage after removing a rear window and ransacking the house in Waterloo Road, Preston Crown Court heard.

However he then went on to burgle the house in Rose Terrace where he helped himself to jewellery, cutlery, gold and silver.

Caught in the act

As he left the property he was confronted by the homeowner who was returning from a shopping trip.

The man asked what he was doing and Stansfield claimed he was collecting for charity before running away carrying bags – which the man recognised.

Police arrested Stansfield close to the scene and he admitted: “Everything in the Morrisons except that grey top is theirs.”

He said he felt terrible, adding: “He’s an old guy. Imagine being faced with a big bloke like me.”

When he was checked into the custody suite at Preston Police Station he gave his occupation as ‘burglar’, the court heard.

He asked for a third burglary in Garstang Road, Fulwood, to be taken into consideration when he appeared at Preston Crown Court to be sentenced.

The court heard Stansfield had a long standing drug addiction and since he was released from prison after serving a sentence for house burglary he had been housed in a shared complex of flats surrounded by addicts.

He had managed to stay off heroin but wanted to get away from the environment in which he was living, he said.

Mr Justice Sweeney, sentencing, said: “It must have been a huge shock for the homeowner to find you and you had the presence of mind to say you were collecting for charity, to endeavour to get away.

“You were arrested a short time afterwards and it is undoubtedly to your credit you accepted your guilt.”

He jailed Stansfield for 2 years and 8 months.