A BURGLAR who went on a crime spree in Horwich has been jailed for 16 months.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Timothy Nolan was caught by police on a roof after officers were called to the Bengal Cottage takeaway at 3.10am on August 4.

Roger Brown, prosecuting, told how the door had been forced open and when officers confronted Nolan he told them: "Some lads were chasing me and I'm up there hiding from them."

The same night Topps Dry Cleaners on Lee Lane was broken into when the back door was kicked open and a hole was smashed in the plasterboard wall separating the premises from the neighbouring Andrew Leech Sports and Schoolwear shop.

Mr Brown told the court that nothing was stolen but damage, which would cost hundreds of pounds to repair, was caused.

Nolan, aged 23, of Roxton Close, Horwich, pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary and the court heard he had previous convictions for similar offences.

Jane Dagnall, defending, said at the time of the burglaries Nolan, who has schizophrenia, had not taken his medication but had taken diazapam.

"He was not thinking rationally," she said.

Jailing Nolan, Recorder Mark Ainsworth told him: "Although nothing was actually taken, significant damage was caused.

"On the the face of it these are three separate small businesses who are trying to conduct their businesses in a proper way, each of which will have been inconvenienced, to say the least, and put to expense by your conduct."