A BURGLAR who broke into a woman's home as she slept was caught after his fingerprint was found on the inside of a window frame.

Prolific thief Wayne Davenport had found a kitchen window partly open at the woman's ground floor flat on Park Street, Bolton, during the night of March 20.

Brian Berlyne, prosecuting, told Manchester Crown Court how 40-year-old Davenport how the victim, who lives alone, had gone to bed at 10.30pm, leaving her handbag, containing bank cards, her driving licence and car keys, on a hall table.

"When she woke up at 10am the following morning she noticed the window in the kitchen was wide open, her handbag had been stolen and the car was missing," said Mr Berlyne.

The Peugeot 207 and other items, together worth £1,200, have never been found.

"The police found fingerprints on the inside of the kitchen window frame and those were later found to match Mr Davenport's fingerprints," said Mr Berlyne.

Davenport, of Mercia Street, Bolton was arrested on October 1 and pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of a car.

When interviewed by police he said he could not remember the burglary because, at the time, he was detoxifying from heroin and diazapam.

The court heard that the victim had been affected by the crimes, still wakes in the night to make sure doors and windows are locked and has had to borrow money to replace her car.

Davenport has a lengthy criminal record, mainly for dishonesty and burglaries at both domestic and commercial premises.

Jane Miller, defending, told Judge Elizabeth Nicholls that, while in prison awaiting sentence, Davenport has "used his time resourcefully to become clean from drugs".

"He feels ashamed for his actions and is genuinely remorseful for the way in which he had made the complainant feel," she added.

Judge Nicholls sentenced Davenport to two years and five months in prison.

She told him: "All of your offending, I have no doubt, are the hallmarks of someone who is addicted to drugs and that has obviously impacted on the chaotic life that you now lead.

"You are now 40. You must turn yourself around and see what you can do to free yourself from addiction otherwise you will just find yourself disappointed in yourself and back before these courts."