A PROLIFIC burglar who targeted a series of town centre pubs and a cafe was caught after his picture was spotted in The Bolton News.

Last month heartless Karl Grundy even stole a charity box from The Old Three Crowns after also burgling The Elephant and Castle, the ROC bar and the Bamboo cafe.

But Bolton Crown Court heard how he was caught on CCTV and a police officer recognised him when the picture was published in the newspaper.

Grundy, aged 44, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary and Judge Timothy Stead sentenced him to 20 weeks in prison.

Jack Troup, defending, told how Grundy has been a heroin addict since the age of 12 and had returned to bad habits after leaving prison following a previous sentence for burglary.

Nicholas Clarke, prosecuting, said Grundy broke into the Bamboo cafe on Deansgate at midday on Sunday July 21.

He had forced open the back door and sawed his way into the kitchen. Grundy stole £70 and he caused £150 in damage.

Nine days later he forced open the rear fire door at the ROC bar on Bradshawgate and caused £1,500 of damage to gambling machines.

Then on August 5 staff at the Elephant and Castle arrived for work to find the premises had been burgled.

"From there, this defendant had stolen some keys which cost £500 to replace. He obviously didn't appreciate they were the keys to the fruit machines," said Mr Clarke.

"At those premises £1,500 worth of damage was caused in an attempt to break through a wall."

Later the same day Grundy broke into the Old Three Crowns and stole the Bolton Hospice charity box, which contained an estimated £40.

The court heard that Grundy has 27 convictions for 48 previous offences, many of them burglaries.

Mr Troup told the court that Grundy, who suffers from schizophrenia, is sorry for the problems he has caused for the business owners.

"He asks me to apologise profusely on his behalf," he said.

"He is under no illusions that this can only result in a custodial sentence."

Sentencing Grundy, Judge Stead told him: "I hope that you are able to do better for yourself in the future.

"I don't pretend it is easy. I know that you have some very serious difficulties.

"But you know only too well, if you keep offending, I am afraid the courts have very little choice but to send you back to prison."