TWO burglars broke into a Worcester man's home four days after he was found dead inside.

Lorraine Whitmore and Kristian Holland got into the house in Fort Royal Hill but a neighbour heard glass being smashed and alerted police.

The pair were caught walking away after climbing out of a front window, said Tim Green, prosecuting.

Whitmore, who also lived in Fort Royal Hill, claimed she went into the property to look for her dog.

Holland, of Vicarage Court, St Paul's Street, Worcester, insisted he never went into the house at all.

But both defendants pleaded guilty to burglary at Worcester Crown Court before they were due to stand trial.

The raided house had been lived in by a recluse but was unoccupied following his death on June 15 last year.

Whitmore, 42, was given a 12 month community order with a drug rehabilitation requirement.

She had spent 42 days in custody on remand after turning up late for an earlier hearing because she had a history of failing to surrender to bail.

Holland, 35, was given a 12-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, and a community order for 12 months.

Judge John Cavell accepted that the break-in, during which nothing was stolen, was at the bottom end of the scale for burglary.

Both defendants had substantial police records. Whitmore had 23 previous convictions for theft. Other crimes included deception, handling stolen goods and drug possession. In 1985 she was jailed for drug smuggling.

Holland had served four years' jail for grievous bodily harm, 30 months for wounding and had convictions for theft, handling and burglary.

Tom Challinor, for Whitmore, said she had made efforts to conquer her drug addiction.

She planned to live with her daughter and get her life back on track.

Charles Hamer, for Holland, said: "He thought it was a crime without a victim. But he needs to take more responsibility for his actions."

His previous house raid was on a derelict property when he was aged 19.