A BURGLAR who stole watches and a television from his partner’s nephew has been jailed.

Bolton Crown Court heard how drug user Clinton Flynn burgled a house on Broad o’th’ Lane, Sharples, during the day on August 22 whilst householder, Tom Doxey was out.

Mr Doxey is the nephew of Flynn’s partner, Diane Cooper.

Lindsay Thomas, prosecuting, told the court how Mr Doxey returned home at 6pm to find the kitchen window open and his television, an Omega watch which had been given to him by his father and three other watches valued at £320, were missing.

CCTV cameras overlooking the property showed 39-year-old Flynn smash and open the window and leave the property carrying the television.

The court heard Flynn admitted what he had done to Ms Cooper, who returned the television to Mr Doxey’s mother, but the watches have never been recovered.

Mrs Thomas said Mr Doxey had been “disgusted” by the crime.

“He can’t believe this defendant would burgle his own relatives,” she said.

The court heard Flynn, of Ashbee Street, Halliwell, has five previous convictions for house burglary and at the time of the offence was on licence from prison.

He pleaded guilty to burgling Mr Doxey’s home.

Kimberley Morton, defending, said that when Flynn committed the crime he had argued with his partner.

“He thought the relationship was over,” she said.

“He says he lost his head and that was a precursor to the offence.”

She added that Flynn, who has a six-month-old daughter, accepts he had started to use heroin again, but that £150 has now been reimbursed to Mr Doxey.

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson, sentenced Flynn to two years and eight months in jail.

He told Flynn: “It is hugely regrettable that you returned to your old ways.

“You should take any opportunity to sort out, once and for all, your drugs problems.”