SERIAL burglar Stephen Bennett stole a coat from a house -- and ended up with a three year jail sentence.

Bennett was jailed under the Government's "three strikes" rule, where anyone convicted of three burglaries gets an automatic three year prison sentence.

Bennett had called at a house in Ashley Street, Breightmet, to see if they wanted to buy a pair of tracksuit bottoms. He found the door open, went in and took the coat before running off.

The 25-year-old of Blair Lane, Bolton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence for burglary. Judge Derwin Hope said it was a tragedy that stealing a coat should lead to

a three-year sentence.

Prosecutor Adrian Dugdale said that Bennett was spotted by a neighbour who gave chase with another man in his car but they lost Bennett.

Minutes later the same neighbour was called by his brother-in-law after Bennett attempted to sell him the coat.

Wayne Jackson, defending, said Bennett was a heroin user who stole to fund his addiction. He had been released from prison on January 27 and had started taking heroin

again when a relationship broke down.