A PROLIFIC burglar broke into and ransacked more than 20 homes, stealing thousands of pounds worth of goods and cars.

Alex Rigby claimed he was motivated to carry out his crime spree because he was in debt to a drugs gang and his family was being threatened.

But, jailing him for seven years, Judge Graeme Smith told him: “To put it bluntly, you have been a menace to society and inflicted misery on numerous people.

“Effectively, you went on a crime spree lasting a month.

“You might want to reflect that, in trying to protect you own grandmother you have caused significant harm to someone else’s parents.”

The court heard that one of his burglaries was at the home of a vulnerable elderly couple in Harpers Lane, Smithills.

They had lived at the address for 50 years and came home on July 7 to find their front door had been smashed in.

“Every room had been searched, drawers and cupboards left open and items scattered on the floor,” said Alison Mather, prosecuting. A box containing £3,500 was taken.

The court heard the couple cannot sleep properly now and are removing anything from the house that the burglar may have touched.

In total Rigby, aged 36, of Crossdale Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to committing 12 burglaries and asked for nine further burglaries to be taken into consideration. He also admitted three thefts, three frauds and the robbery of a van from a newspaper deliverer next to the One Stop Shop on Bury Road, Bolton, on July 14.

The court heard how self-employed newspaper delivery driver Michael Walmsley was punched and kicked by two men who got into his van at 6.35am.

The driver was pushed from the vehicle, which he had only bought six weeks earlier, and landed on the ground before the robbers drove off.

Three of Rigby’s burglaries were committed with 23-year-old Thomas Withington, of no fixed address.

The court heard that Withington was homeless, living in a tent and Zillah Williams, defending Withington, said he had been approached by Rigby.

“He was someone who was in desperate circumstances at the time,” she said.

“Mr Rigby came and offered him a ride in a warm car and that was his desire — to leave his tent for a short while.”

The pair burgled three properties within an hour and a half on July 9 in Warrington, Great Sankey and Widnes.

In Warrington they ransacked a house but left empty handed after being disturbed.

“But a box containing the owner’s previous dog’s ashes had been forced open and she was particularly distressed about that,” said Miss Mather.

Withington pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary and was jailed for 27 months.

The local properties burgled by Rigby include: a home in Market Street, Little Lever, between June 22 and 27; property in Manchester Road, Tyldesley on July 20 where a VW Golf was stolen; Turks Road, Radcliffe where a Nissan Qashqai and Peugeot were taken; Marsh Road, Bolton on July 10; Grange Road, Bolton, on June 22, Round Barn, Turton, on July 13; Church Lane, Westhoughton, on June 19 where a vehicle was taken; Junction Road, West, Lostock, on July 20.

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At Junction Road West keys to a Peugeot were stolen and someone attempted to take the vehicle the next day but the owner, fearing its theft, had removed the battery.

Other Bolton burglaries Rigby asked to be taken into consideration were in Wynne Street, South Grove, Wellington Road, Belmont Road, Tong Road, Junction Road West, Subway at Horwich and Little Scotland.

Peter Horgan, defending Rigby, said many of the burglaries he committed would not have been detected if he had not told police about them himself.

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Rigby has served prison sentences for dozens of previous burglaries.

“He is determined to make a clean slate,” said Mr Horgan.

“The defendant wishes to draw a line under matters and get on with serving his sentence.”

Miss Williams said Withington is now free of the crack cocaine he was addicted to and hopes to qualify as a chef.

“He is a young man still who has learnt a significant lesson,” she said.

“He does not intend to appear before the court again.”