A MAN broke into the house of his former partner and stole a £750 computer out of "spite and jealousy", a court heard.

Lee Breen pawned the computer for £140 and then offered the pawn ticket to his former girlfriend.

But she had guessed that Breen would take the stolen computer to Cash Generator to pawn and, when that was confirmed, she called the police.

Breen, aged 30, of Wash Lane, Bury, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence. He admitted burglary and obtaining property by deception.

When Breen was arrested he admitted he had taken the computer out of "spite and jealousy".

Michael Lavery, defending, said Breen's previous convictions all related to his heroin habit.

Recorder Richard Brittain agreed to a pre-sentence report recommendation that Breen was suitable for a drug treatment and testing order over the next 12 months.

Breen's former partner, Paula Smith, discovered she had been burgled on February 18 this year.

She found the bottom panel in a rear door had been broken and that the computer had been taken.

He was given a drug treatment and testing order for 12 months.

at first claimed he had been living at the house until February 14 but then

Breen and Smith had been living together until the relationship broke up and she had taken back his keys.