A SUBSTANTIAL jail sentence for a serial burglar in Darwen has been welcomed by police and a borough councillor.

Last summer residents in the town were concerned after a spate of break-ins and police urged householders to remain vigilant.

Police later arrested Nathan Chadwick while he was trying to get into a house in Cross Barn Walk, off Ratcliffe Street.

The 22-year-old was later under released while an investigation was launched into a string of burglaries and attempted raids, around the same time.

Further evidence linked him to incidents in Springthorpe Street, Shelley Grove, Suddell Close and Essex Street.

Chadwick was later arrested and charged with three burglaries and two attempted burglaries.

He eventually pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for four years and six months at Preston Crown Court.

The raids were not the first time Chadwick had been in trouble with the law.

In 2017 he was hauled before Blackburn magistrates after breaking into a car and stealing bank cards and cash.

He was caught trying to use one of the stolen cards and was later given a 12-month community order, after admitting to the theft and seven fraud charges.

PC Mark Bewley, of Lancashire Police, said: “This is a fantastic result which will see a prolific burglar off the streets for some time.

“Chadwick is an opportunistic offender who targeted a number of properties across the Darwen area, leaving his victims feeling vulnerable and distressed.

“We welcome the sentence handed down at court and hope it serves as a warning to others who want to commit such crimes.”

Cllr Roy Davies, who represents Darwen East ward on Blackburn with Darwen Council and is currently the town's mayor, said: "It's a great result for the police because there's been a number of attempted burglaries in the area recently.

"There are a number of vulnerable people living in Darwen and it's important that something is being done."

Several break-ins in the Whitehall area of the town, including a raid on Kingdom Hall, in Astley Street, saw fed-up residents ready to launch their own security patrols.

But police and councillors cautioned against allowing 'vigilante' sentiments to cloud people's judgements.