A BURGLAR caught emptying a garden shed at dead of night told the householder: “I’m just helping myself” and asked for a drink and a cigarette.

Carl Rawson, who had notched up 131 previous offences, then waited for the police to arrive, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

The shed break-in at Cranbrook Street, West Bowling, Bradford, was Rawson’s second confrontation burglary in about an hour. He had just been caught gathering up items to steal from a family home in nearby New Cross Street, prosecutor Philip Adams said.

Rawson, 36, of Thirkhill Court, West Bowling, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal, burgling the shed and possession of cocaine on January 2.

He further admitted stealing £50 of wine from the Shell petrol station on Rooley Lane in Bradford on June 8.

Mr Adams said that Rawson, described as “a desperate heroin and cocaine addict,” forced the kitchen window at the house at 1.30am.

When the occupier went to investigate, Rawson asked him if he could sleep in his garden. He had piled up items in the kitchen ready to make off with, including food, crockery, clothing and perfume.

At 2.45am, a boy was woken by the sound of the family’s shed being raided. Rawson had broken the lock and he was dragging out items, the court was told.

When his father went out and challenged Rawson, asking him: “What are you doing?” he replied: “Just helping myself.”

Rawson then asked for a drink and a cigarette and was given a drink while he waited for the police to arrive. The householder’s lawn mower and washing line had been discarded over the fence.

Rawson had a wrap of cocaine on him when he was arrested and he tested positive for Class A drugs.

While he was under police investigation, he stole from the petrol station.

The court heard that Rawson had racked up 66 convictions for 131 offences, including commercial burglary, robbery and shoplifting, but this was his first offence of housebreaking.

In January, he was jailed for four months for shop theft, being released in April.

Rawson’s solicitor advocate, Ashok Khullar, said he had engaged well with his post sentence supervision.

In the New Year, he was homeless and desperately addicted to heroin and cocaine.

He now had a stable relationship and somewhere to live.

Judge Jonathan Gibson told Rawson: “You’ve led something of a charmed life over the years, receiving many community orders.”

Rawson had problems with addiction to alcohol and drugs as well as mental health difficulties.

He was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a 12 month Drug Rehabilitation Requirement.