A BURGLAR who raided the home of an elderly Gornal couple has been locked up for 32 months.

Judge Mark Eades said Robert Bate had a "shocking and appalling" criminal record with 15 previous convictions for attacks on homes in the area.

And at the time of his latest offence, said the Judge, the 45-year-old of Elm Green, Dudley, was on bail and on licence after his release from a custodial sentence.

The judge told Bate, who admitted burgling the house in Clarence Street and also taking tools and the keys to the couple's car: "I have no sympathy with you at all. You have appeared before courts for burglary on countless occasions,"

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told Bate, who stole property including jewellery and cash from the house, was arrested by investigating police officers after he left fingerprints at the scene of the raid.