WHEN a woman discovered she had been burgled she suspected an ex-boyfriend, a court was told.

When she visited a friend of the man she found the stolen property in his bedroom.

Even after being confronted Steven Stokes denied being involved in the break-in.

He later admitted it but begged the woman not to go to the police.

Stokes, aged 36, of Oak Tree Close, Howe Bridge, Atherton, admitted burglary before Bolton Crown Court and was jailed for 12 months.

The court was told goods including a Gucci watch, a hi-fi, TV and £1,000 cash were taken in the burglary.

Stokes admitted breaking in with another man he refused to name and said he could remember little of the incident because of drink and drugs.

Bob Sastry, for Stokes, said he had fallen in with a group of heroin users and ended taking the drug himself.