A PROFESSIONAL 'fence' who handled stolen goods has been jailed for two years.

A car worth £4,000, phones, CDs, a cigarette case, a passport and electrical goods were some of the property handled by Lee Watts.

He made visits to a pawnbroker to sell property stolen from house burglaries.

Watts, aged 31, of Brideoak Street, Leigh, admitted six charges of handling stolen property on the day his trial was due to start.

His co-accused, Janice Thorpe, aged 37, of Brideoak Street admitted receiving stolen goods and will be sentenced on June 5.

Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, said police went to the couple's house and found a large amount of stolen goods, including the car.

Watts had previous convictions for many offences and had been jailed for a series of burglaries, going equipped and dishonesty.

Brian McKenna, defending, said the stolen property was brought to Watts' house by a man called Les.