A man carried out a burglary at the home of a man he knew in Bolton – and told the police the occupant would have “no issue” with him being there.

Aaron Booth targeted a property on Oxford Grove, Halliwell, in December last year.

The occupant left to go to his partner’s home.

Bolton Crown Court heard he returned a short time later to be told there was someone inside.

Eleanor Gleeson, prosecuting, said: “He was alerted by a neighbour that there was a man in his house.

“He was told a male had entered the upstairs window. He went inside.

“The defendant tried to run past him. He had tried to steal a bad containing new clothes and trainers.

“He was arrested and provided a prepared statement.

“He claimed he climbed in through the window, he has known the man for years, he thought he would have no issue with it, he had no unlawful intention.”

She also read a victim impact statement from the man whose house was broken into.

It said: “I never want him to come near me again.”

Booth denied burglary but later changed his plea to guilty.

He appeared in Bolton Crown Court to be sentenced.

The court heard he had carried out multiple burglaries before.

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Amanda Johnson, defending, said he had been out of trouble for around three years since his last release from prison at the time of the offence last year.

She said he had gone out and sourced amphetamine and Valium at the time.

She said: “He saw property he thought he could sell.

“He was disturbed in the process.”

Judge Nicholas Clarke KC said: “The victim has described their upset and anger that someone would break into their house without permission.”

He jailed Boot, 39 and from Vicarage Road, Blackrod, Bolton, for two years and eleven months.