A SERIAL burglar broke in to a Greenock woman’s home and stole an array of valuables including her jewellery – then cashed in by selling them to a nearby pawn shop.

Allan Barnes also helped himself to a TV, a Freeview box, a laptop computer, a power drill and hair straighteners before strolling 200 yards to Cash Generator with the loot.

But the jobless 35-year-old — who has multiple convictions for housebreaking – had his entire journey to the store on West Blackhall Street recorded on CCTV cameras.

And after his victim returned home to find that her flat had been ransacked, police moved quickly to trace the thief and arrest him over the May 7 raid.

Prosecutor Pamela Brady told Greenock Sheriff Court: “The householder arrived to find her front door ajar and also a footprint at the door. A number of items were missing from the property.

“It was established that items had been stolen and taken to Cash Generator.

“A staff member there told police that the accused had handed over a television, a freeview box, jewellery, a drill and hair straighteners in order to get a valuation.

“The store purchased the items from him, with the exception of the hair straighteners.”

The court heard that Barnes — who had been carrying a lockback knife — was traced on Dalrymple Street and later gave a ‘no comment’ interview to police.

Fiscal depute Mrs Brady said: “A review of CCTV footage clearly showed the accused in possession of the stolen items.”

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher said that his client had succumbed to the ‘ready availability’ of cheap illicit valium tablets on the day of the break-in.

The solicitor added: “Mr Barnes has experienced difficulties with alcohol and drugs over the years.

“He had taken street valium and as a result his recollection is not clear as to the circumstances of this matter, but he accepts that he is responsible for the theft.”

Explaining the blade offence, Mr Gallagher said that Barnes had historically used the knife for ‘fishing’.

But he added: “He had not been engaged in that activity for a number of months. He had it in his pocket rather than within the Inverclyde Centre, where he was residing at the time.

“He had no intention to use it but the fact that he had it in his possession at the time constitutes the offence.”

Mr Gallagher said: “He has asked me to extend an apology to the householder.

“He appreciates in sobriety that it must have been an unpleasant experience for her that her property was disturbed and items stolen.”  

Sheriff Iain Fleming sentenced Barnes to 18 months and 14 days’ imprisonment.

The lawman told him: “This is your fourth conviction for housebreaking.”