A SERIAL thief caught breaking into the home of someone he had known for 20 years has been jailed for five years.

Burglary victim Adam Ryder came face-to-face with Scott Henderson after being awoken by the sounds of an intruder at his Radcliffe home, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court was told.

Henderson was startled and fled - but Mr Ryder obtained CCTV footage from neighbours to prove his house had been broken into.

Rachel Faux, prosecuting, said the incident was one of three home raids Henderson carried out between July and October last year.

Another householder, in Montgomery Drive, Radcliffe, had gone to take her dog for a walk before work when the defendant walked into her home.

Miss Faux said Henderson took her mobile phone from a kitchen counter before riding away on her son's bike.

The court heard Henderson was arrested over the break-in at Mr Henderson's,after being identified and traced to his flat in Tottington.

Miss Faux said the defendant was released under investigation when a third burglary occurred at the home of Carmela Murphy in Radcliffe New Road, Whitefield.

Security camera footage pictured Henderson jumping over a side gate at the property before walking into the house through an insecure door.

Once inside, said Miss Faux, he took a Vivienne Westwood handbag, cash and the keys to a £12,000 Mercedes Sport SLC car, He drove the vehicle away with his haul, none of which was ever recovered.

Miss Faux said Henderson also stole a Ford Transit van from a workman, who had left the keys in the ignition while returning to collect something from his Radcliffe home.

The van was spotted shortly afterwards by police in Turks Road, having mounted the pavement. A woman pedestrian had to jump out of the way to avoid being run over.

"One police officer said the van missed the woman by only two or three feet," added Miss Faux.

The court heard Henderson, a banned driver, was also been caught behind the wheel of a friend's car he drove home after a night out in Farnworth.

Henderson, 34, admitted to three burglaries, aggravated vehicle taking and two disqualified driving charges. He has been jailed for burglary several times previously.

Mark Shanks, defending, said his client suffered from various mental health problems and had been "self-medicating" at the time. Henderson recalled little about the burglaries but was remorseful.

Jailing him and banning him from driving for five years, Judge Angela Nield said: "You have an appalling record."