A house owner and his mother detained a burglar after finding him in an empty property they owned.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Alexander Glover, 43, was detained by the owner of the house in Blackpool Street, Church, when he and his mother went to check the property in the early hours.

Christopher McKillop, who is now a part-time security guard, was seen climbing out of an upstairs window and left his prints.

Glover, who was said to have turned to drugs after the breakdown of his marriage, and his co-defendant, a father-to-be, admitted burglary in March last year.

Glover, of Fraser Street, Burnley, was given an 18-month community order with supervision on the Think First programme and McKillop, of Cobden Street, Padiham, received a 12-month community order with 180 hours unpaid work.

Recorder Susan Grocott said she could class the offence as a low level burglary.

She said McKillop had been on "something of a spree" of offending at the time, but had now turned his life around and it would be remiss of the court to interfere.

She told the pair: "You should both consider yourself very lucky today."

Charlotte Holland, prosecuting, told the court the burgled house was under renovation. The owner left his keys with a friend and when they were returned he was with McKillop.

The occupant checked the keys and found the back door key missing. He and his mother went to check the property in the early hours and Glover came downstairs and said: "This is my house".

Glover was detained while his accomplice escaped through a window and ran away.

Gerard Doran, for Glover, said his client was not heavily convicted and it was his first burglary offence.

Kath Johnson, defending McKillop, said he had amassed previous convictions, realised where his life was going and had taken positive steps to turn his life around.