A thief who stole expensive goods from the home of a childhood friend on Christmas Day has been jailed for 21 months.

Homeless Lyndsey Magari, aged 25, "considerably spoiled" Christmas for Clare Campbell's four children after the burglary at their Farnworth home, Bolton Crown Court heard.

Michael Goldwater, prosecuting, saidMiss Campbell, aged 31, had invited Magari to stay on December 13 last year but told her to leave three days before Christmas because the arrangement was not working.

Magari crept into the house early on Christmas Day and stole a Playstation console, games and DVDs, the court heard. She was arrested after being found with the goods, worth £730, later that day.

Stephen Teesdale, defending, said Magari, a drug addict, had taken heroin at the time of the break-in.

Magari admitted one count of burglary and a breach of her anti-social behaviour order before being sentenced on Thursday.

Judge Elliot Knopf said: "This was a gross abuse of hospitality and a mean offence."