A BUSINESS has been left counting the cost after a prolific burglar stripped copper piping from several floors, causing thousands of pounds in flood damage.

Jason Harrison, 42, who has 62 previous convictions, broke into Bellwoven, in Newmarket Street, Colne, and stripped piping from several floors of the building.

Water was on the floors and seeped down through the premises causing more than £60,000 damage to stock, computers and electric cables.

Police found the defendant upstairs at about 8am and was in a state. Three blue tablets, thought to be valium, were by him, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The defendant was armed with a torch and a stanley knife was discovered nearby.

The hearing was told the roof of the firm would cost £50,000 to repair, but the defendant was not entirely to blame as the firm had been plagued by thieves trying to steal lead flashing.

The defendant, of Fir Street, Nelson, had 62 previous convictions, which included nine for burglary and four for going equipped.

He had admitted burglary and going equipped for theft in early April, and had been committed for sentence by Burnley magistrates.

Jailing him for two years, Recorder Andrew Long said he had a 'prodigious' criminal record.

Steve Doney, sales director at the firm, said: “It has caused about £60,000 worth of damage, although we’re still waiting on the final estimate for the work.

“It also caused quite a large area to be flooded and it meant we couldn’t really do anything for four days, part of the building was like a swimming pool.

“The total cost will be about £100,000 with the loss of production and we will have to foot most of the bill ourselves. We are still in negotiations with insurers but I think it will hit us hard.

“It is going to have a financial impact, there are going to be difficult times ahead, we’ve got to recoup that money somehow.”