A TEENAGE serial burglar was sent to a Young Offender's Institution for more than four years under the Government's rarely used "three strikes and you're out" legislation.

Stuart Whittle, aged 18, who targeted elderly and vulnerable people including a 93-year-old, is believed to be only the seventh burglar in the country to be jailed under the tough legislation which came into force in 2000.

The Powers of Criminal Court Sentencing Act 1999 make it mandatory that anyone who committs three or more house burglaries is jailed for a minimum of three years. Whittle was sent to a Young Offender's Institution for 56 months by Recorder Neville Biddle, who last week gave another burglar one last chance.

Last week he sentenced Michael Rollinson, aged 26, of St Osmund Avenue, Breightmet, to a two-year Community Rehabilitation Order, although Rollinson had 35 previous convictions for 199 offences.

Whittle admitted breaking into an 82-year-old woman's bungalow while she was in her garden, and asked for 17 other burglaries to be taken in to consideration.

During an 18-month crime spree, Whittle broke into elderly people's homes and stole property and cash worth £4,500, and spent the money on buying heroin. Whittle's eldest victim was 93 and many of his victims were either in their 70s or 80s.

Whittle, of St James Street, Farnworth, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence. He admitted one count of burglary, a breach of a Drug Treatment and Testing Order, and a breaching a curfew order.

Recorder Biddle said: "A number of your offences were against elderly vulnerable people, the oldest being 93, because they were easy victims.

"You leave the court with no other possible sentence than that of custody. For someone older than you the sentence would have been in excess of five years."

On November 26 last year, an 82-year-old woman was in the garden of her bungalow when she saw Whittle climb over the fence and enter her house.

He escaped with her handbag, which contained £85 and bank cards. She called the police and they arrested him nearby.

After his arrest, Whittle took officers on a tour of local properties and showed them which ones he had burgled.

Whittle had eight previous convictions for burglaries, theft and breaches of various court orders.

Amy Nicholson, defending, said Whittle had been disowned by his family because of his addiction to heroin. She said: "He is a young man who has been destroyed by heroin."

Recorder Biddle said: "A number of your offences were against elderly vulnerable people, the oldest being 93, because they were easy victims.

"You leave the court with no other possible sentence than that of custody. For someone older than you the sentence would have been in excess of five years.

"The courts take a serious view of those who target the elderly and vulnerable and must send a clear message that those who target old people will receive a serious sentence."