A MAN from Preston has been jailed for more than two years following two burglaries in Bolton and Tameside.

Liam Farnworth, 22, of Frenchwood Street, Preston was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to two years and four months in jail after pleading guilty to two counts of burglary.

His sentence follows two burglaries committed in Hyde and Bolton in January and August 2020.

Alison Mather, prosecuting, described how on Friday, January 17 last year, Farnworth's first victim had left her property on Mottram Road, Hyde, before returning on Monday, January 20 to find that her property had been burgled and electrical goods including a laptop and phone, jewellery, and multiple other items had all been stolen - some of which were irreplaceable items for the victim.

The victim later discovered a blood stain on a duvet cover and this was found to match that of Farnworth.

On Thursday, August 13, Farnworth's second victim was upstairs in his property on Lever Park Avenue, Horwich, when he heard a noise from downstairs and went downstairs to investigate.

As he entered his dining room he was confronted by two men - including Farnworth - wearing balaclavas and searching through boxes of cutlery. Both males were chased out of the property by the owner and he discovered they had smashed their way in through the conservatory door.

Blood samples obtained from the broken door matched that of Farnworth's.

A warrant was put out for his arrest following the first offence and several arrest attempts were unsuccessful.

In October last year, Lancashire Police came across him on Skeffington Road, Preston, and he was subsequently arrested.

James Preece, defending, said Farnworth used to live in Salford where he had been the subject of a machete attack leading to police officers issuing an 'Osman warning' meaning there was "a real and immediate threat" to his life.

Mr Preece said: "He is currently in prison in Manchester and like most prisoners is behind his door cell for the vast majority of the day but for him things are worse because he is worried about leaving the cell at all because of people who were in the prison and concerns that he may be in danger."

Sentencing Farnworth, Judge Maurice Greene, said: "It has been particularly difficult for you being in custody for some time because of your fear of leaving your cell."

Detective Constable Natalie Fairhurst of GMP's Tameside district said: "Farnworth believed he was above the law and could not only burgle multiple houses, but evade police detection. Thankfully he now has time to think about his actions from behind bars.

"GMP does not tolerate this sort of behaviour and I hope today's result serves as a reassurance to the community that we are committed to tackling this sort of criminal activity in their area."