Alcoholic jailed after breaking into Burslem home as women slept

BURGLAR Lee Beard has been sent to prison after breaking into a house while two women slept upstairs.

The 39-year-old, who has a drink problem, smashed a patio door with a metal ball, used for playing boules, he had found in the garden.

Realising he had been heard, he then tried to escape but was arrested nearby with a bleeding hand. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Beard targeted the home on High Lane, Burslem, at around 12.40am on July 11.

When interviewed Beard, of Robert Heath Street, Smallthorne, told police he thought the house was empty and was looking for somewhere to sleep.

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He had initially pleaded not guilty to burglary and was due to go on trial in December, but yesterday changed his plea to guilty.

The court heard he had 54 previous convictions for dishonesty offences. He was subject to a community order, imposed for theft, at the time of the burglary.

Peter McCartney, mitigating, said: "He was going through some problems at the time of the offence. Things were very tough and on impulse he committed this burglary."

Judge Paul Glenn sentenced Beard to 18 months in prison. He also revoked the previous community order and re-sentenced him to a further three months custody.