A DRUG addict who went on a burglary spree after a two-week binge has been jailed for two years.

Cody Walker, aged 35, of Derwent Road, Farnworth, targeted a succession of homes in the early hours of October 2, Bolton Crown Court heard.

He broke into four homes and a shed in Walker Avenue, Newport Road and Forester Hill in Great Lever, while residents slept.

One of the houses was home to an elderly man.

Walker gained entry to the properties by removing the beading from windows.

On one occasion, a householder woke after the burglar alarm went off. He saw Walker in the garden.

Walker was eventually caught when a police dog tracked him down following a burglary.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary and one count of attempted burglary when he appeared at Bolton Crown Court on Thursday.

A further three offences of burglary were taken into consideration.

Mark Friend, defending, said the items Walker stole, which included a hat, a kitchen knife, a carton of milk and a metal tin, illustrated his "chaotic state of mind" at the time.

He said his client did not ransack any of the properties and the items were returned to their owners.

Mr Friend said: "There were no aggravating features. He did not deliberately target a vulnerable person it was a coincidence that one of the houses was occupied by an elderly man.

"It was following a binge of Class A drugs and prescription drugs over a 14-day period that he embarked on a burglary binge.

"He has remained clean of drugs for the past four months after 15 years of drug addiction."

Mr Friend said Walker had a substantial record spanning 25 years but only one previous offence of burglary in 1994, for which he was sent to prison for eight months.

Walker also admitted breaching a conditional discharge for shoplifting.

He was given 21 months for burglary and three months for the breach.

Judge Timothy Clayson said: "These are serious offences of burglary of peoples homes during the night. You are someone who has suffered a chaotic lifestyle as a result of addiction to drugs.

"The more houses you burgle, the greater the risk of coming across the house of a vulnerable person.

"Drugs and drink are not mitigation but they do give us an explanation."