A man who was high on drugs consumed with the intention of taking his own life has been jailed for attempting to break into two homes.

Carl Pollitt had taken a large dose of medication and told police he thought he was going into his own house when the incidents occurred on Westgate in Burnley at around 6am on May 31.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Pollitt, 46, was in a confused state when he tried the front door handles of two neighbouring properties, and afterwards said he had no recollection of what had actually happened.

Prosecuting, Mark Stephenson said: “At around 6.15am one of the victims was asleep in her home and woke up to the sound of someone trying the handle of the front door.

“She then heard the letter box being fiddled with and went downstairs and saw the handle being lifted.

“She looked through the peep hole and saw the top of the defendant’s head and said, ‘if you don’t stop I will call the police’, before dialling 999.

“The second victim was also asleep when someone began knocking on the door to his home.

“The man went to his window and saw a male, the defendant, sitting on the doorstep with his back to the front door.

“The police were called and the defendant was still sat on the step when they arrived.

“He was arrested and gave a statement saying he had taken drugs and that he was going into his own house.”

Pollitt, of Mitre Street, Burnley, which is around a five minute walk from the properties he tried to enter, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted burglary.

Defending, Constance Halliwell said her client had “significant mitigation” in that he had taken a large quantity of medication with the “intention of ending his life”.

Ms Halliwell told the court: “He was in a confused state with no recollection of what he did.

“He didn’t even remember speaking with the police and when he arrived back at his accommodation, which is Gateway housing.

“The staff had to cal an ambulance for him and he was taken to hospital where he stayed for three days.

“He suffers from schizophrenia and depression, both of which he is medicated for.

“He has previously served a six year prison sentence for which he was sentenced at Bolton, and now wants to address his mental health and his drug use and acknowledges he needs help.

“He is remorseful and is very sorry these offences occurred. It was never his intention to cause any harm and it would never have happened if he hadn’t taken those drugs.”

Judge Sarah Dodd said she had taken into account everything she knew about the defendant but had to bear in mind that he had tried to get into not one but two properties and had fully admitted to that.

Pollitt, who has 33 convictions for 72 offences was jailed for 14 months.

Judge Dodd said: “The real challenge for you is not when you are in custody but when you are released and only you can make the changes you need to.”

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