A TEENAGE burglar who ransacked two homes has been spared a jail sentence.

But a judge had warned him that "all bets are off" and he will be going to custody if he fails to comply with an intensive community order.

James Ward, aged 19, broke into a house in Renfrew Drive, Beaumont Chase on April 5 last year while the 69-year-old owner visited her husband in hospital.

Juliet Berry, prosecuting, told how, after getting in through a patio door, he ransacked the property, stealing jewellery worth £4,500 plus £2,000 from a bedroom drawer as well as a DVD player.

The owner was so badly affected by the break in that she has now moved.

The burglar was captured on a neighbour's CCTV but could not be identified until he left blood at the scene of another burglary in Wigan Road, Deane on August 27. Miss Berry told how the owner returned home at 10.45pm to find a scene of devastation and his cat missing, having run away during the break-in.

"He describes the offenders as having been right through the house," said Miss Berry.

Drawers had been pulled out, broken and contents strewn on the floor. The loft had even been searched and £300 was stolen from a money box with a further £150 taken from a coat pocket.

On March 21 police saw Ward, who was banned from driving after a previous dangerous driving conviction, emerging from the Hall Lane caravan site in Farnworth in a VW Golf.

He headed towards Little Lever but then swerved, did a u-turn, overtook vehicles on a blind bend and headed back into the site.

A police car blocked the entrance but was slightly damaged as Ward tried to escape.

Ward, of Hall Lane, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, dangerous driving and driving while banned and without insurance.

He was remanded in custody but Robert Lancaster, defending, appealed to the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson, not to make him serve any longer behind bars.

"For 19 years of age he has suffered significant trauma which is perhaps unusual," said Mr Lancaster.

Ward was sentenced to an 18 month community order with 40 rehabilitation activity days.

He will also be electronically tagged and subject to a 7pm to 6am cufew for one month then 8pm to 6am and 9pm to 6am in subsequent two months.