A BURGLAR who bit his victim’s finger has been jailed for four years.

Ryan Smedley, aged 36, burgled a house in Cornergate, Westhoughton, last month, minutes away from his own home in Old Hall Lane.

Smedley entered the bedroom of resident David Yeung while he was asleep at night on July 19.

Bolton Crown Court heard that Smedley bit Mr Yeung’s finger during a struggle as he tried to escape.

The court also heard that Smedley threatened to stab Mr Yeung, but the judge said that this was no more than a threat because the accused did not have any weapon.

Smedley has previous convictions for burglary, most recently in 2015.

Judge Timothy Stead told Smedley that the offence was “a continuation of his career” as a burglar.

Smedley was given full credit for indicating that he would plead guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for the burglary, six months of which will be served concurrently for actual bodily harm.