JOINERY workers surrounded a house being raided by a burglar -- then replaced the pensioner victim's broken window for free.

Recorder Beverley Lunt said the men, from Wilsons Manufacturing Joiners, had been public-spirited and very kind to the 62-year-old charity worker after her home was targeted during the day.

The judge sent culprit, young dad Warren Hamer, 22, to jail for three years and said the victim would probably never feel safe in her home again.

She added only custody was appropriate and although the defendant, who was sent to custody for 16 months in September 1999, had pleaded guilty, he had had little alternative after being caught red-handed.

The judge said his sentences would get longer and longer if he kept on committing break-ins.

Hamer, of Haworth Avenue, Church, had admitted burglary in January and been committed for sentence by the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Magistrates.

Sue Riley, prosecuting, said the victim left home to go to work in a charity shop and a worker at the nearby joinery firm in Burnley, which overlooked the bottom of Accrington Road and the woman's house saw a man running at her window and hitting it hard.

He then climbed onto the ledge and into the premises. The joiner went to phone police and several of his workmates went to the house and covered both sides, front and back until the police arrived.

Hamer had to climb out through the broken window with an officer, the sitting room had been ransacked and a box containing watches, jewellery, alcohol and cigarettes had been placed on the settee.

Mrs Riley said the defendant was interviewed, said he had a £50-a-day heroin habit and had intended to take anything he could sell, but not electrical goods.

Roger Baldwin, defending, said Hamer had abused heroin and occasionally cannabis since he was 16 and all his offences since had been drug-related.