A serial burglar and thief has walked free from court, despite clocking up a spree of 20 offences.
Paul Almond, 35, invaded two houses on Westwood Street and Devonshire Street in Accrington in the daytime, Burnley Crown Court heard.
At Devonshire Street, he helped himself to a £1,600 haul, but at the other he got nothing, as a neighbour spotted him, alerted police and he was arrested.
Almond, of Prospect Street, Great Harwood, admitted two counts of burglary and was committed for sentence by Blackburn Magistrates.
He asked for 18 burglaries, most of them at unoccupied houses, to be considered.
The defendant was given 52 weeks in custody, suspended for two years, with a six-month rehabilitation drugs programme.
He must do 200 hours’ unpaid work and obey a three-month curfew, between 9pm and 7am.
Sentencing, Recorder Christopher Hudson said on balance the public interest, which was his main concern, and the defendant’s interests, were best served by a suspended term.
The judge told Almond: "This is probably your last chance. You breach this, you go back on drugs, or reoffend, and you will go to prison. You would be exceedingly unwise not to take it."
