A WORCESTER man cleared of stabbing his cousin five times has been jailed for three years for burgling the same relative's city home.

Andrew Wise was found not guilty by a jury of wounding Roger Jones with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and acquitted of an alternative charge of unlawful wounding.

But after the verdicts it was revealed 22-year-old Wise, a former heroin addict, of Cyril Road, Worcester, had 43 previous convictions, for crimes including assault, threatening behaviour, possession of drugs, burglaries of a house and commercial premises and a weapons offence.

Wise burgled his cousin's home in Alder Close, off Tunnel Hill, in October last year and stole goods worth £2,300, said John Attwood, prosecuting.

Blood found at the premises matched Wise's DNA profile and he pleaded guilty before the trial began.

It was alleged that four months after the raid he returned to the bungalow, intending to crack open Mr Jones' safe after telling fellow drug addict Craig Parkin the victim was "minted".

Mr Jones, aged 58, came home at midnight and was confronted by a man wearing a scarf over his face who stabbed him. His fleece reduced the injuries and he quickly recovered.

Mr Parkin alleged to police Wise confessed to the attack, and Mr Parkin's ex-girlfriend, Anna Warburton, claimed he was wearing a woolly hat similar to one seen by the stab victim.

But William Rickarby, defending, dismissed their evidence at unreliable. He suggested Mr Parkin may have been the attacker because his money supply for drugs had been cut off.

Wise, who declined to give evidence at his trial, asked for three thefts of vacuum cleaners to be taken into consideration.

He hired them, giving his sister's address, and then sold them for cash.

Mr Rickarby said Wise had struggled with heroin addiction since the age of 16 but was now clear of the drug.

He had agreed while on remand to talk to younger prisoners about drugs.

"He now realises the distress he caused people," Mr Rickarby added.

Judge Michael Mott dismissed a claim by Wise that he did not know it was his cousin's address that he burgled.

"It was a mean and despicable offence. Your life is an example of how heroin can bring people down and how innocent people like Mr Jones have to pay," he added.