A 27-year-old serial burglar has avoided a minimum three-year jail term after his barrister persuaded a judge not to impose the so-called "three strikes'' sentence.

Christopher Pearson had twice served prison sentences for house burglary and could have been locked up again for three years after he admitted stealing timber from a Bradford flat in March.

But barrister Stephen Wood submitted that the latest offence was not the type of house burglary which Parliament had intended should trigger the minimum three-year term.

Bradford Crown Court heard today that the flat was unoccupied at the time because it was being renovated.

Mr Wood argued that Pearson, of Charteris Road, Lower Grange, Bradford, should also received credit for his admissions to a series of other offences and his co-operation with the police.

Prosecutor Heather Gilmore confirmed that in addition to the burglary of the flat Pearson had asked for a further 77 offences to be taken into consideration.

Those offences, from the beginning of 2003 to early this year, included more than 40 thefts from vehicles and 12 house burglaries.

Mr Wood said if the victims of those further offences could derive any comfort from knowing the person responsible had been brought to justice then his client should get the credit for that.

"It must be in the public interest for the courts to send out a clear message that if you assist the police and if you are frank with the police and courts it can only be to your benefit,'' he said.

Jailing Pearson for 15 months, Judge Terence Walsh said he had an unenviable record and he had every reason to be grateful for his barrister's submissions.

"There is clear evidence of your desire to make a fresh start,'' conceded Judge Walsh.

"Make sure you're not back here for any reason."