A BURGLAR who ransacked a young sailor's room will be better off in prison than facing war with Iraq.

That is the angry verdict of Sara Foster, whose son is serving on the Ark Royal with the British Fleet in the Gulf.

Mrs Foster, of Gilgal, Stourport, spoke after the court case in which Beau Broadhurst was locked up for nearly four years for the crime against her son Steven Barnes.

"I'm over the moon. I think everybody in Stourport is elated," she said.

"But what really annoys me is he'll be getting three meals a day, be able to watch telly, and sleep on a warm bed at night.

"This guy has got it cushy whereas my son is risking his life out there for a low-life like him."

Broadhurst, aged 28, of The Slad, Stourport, and accomplice Lee Sandford, 21, of Wiveldon Avenue. Wilden, stole goods worth £795 after getting in through Steven's bedroom window at the family home, Worcester Crown Court was told. Both pleaded guilty.

Steven, 21, lost his stereo, Playstation and a £500 gold bracelet, which was given to him by friends in the Navy for his 21st birthday, in the raid last month.

Jailing Broadhurst for three years and 11 months, Judge David Matthews said he had an "appalling" criminal record.

He also broke into homes in Baldwin Lane and Mitton Street, stealing goods worth £898.

Sandford raided the home of a pensioner in The Slad with Glyn Evans in August last year and stole cash being saved in bottles.

Sandford was remanded in custody to be assessed over his suitability for a drug testing and training order as an alternative to jail. He will be sentenced on March 17.

The court heard that Evans, 20, Broadhurst's brother, had since died from a drugs overdose.

Adam Western, defending said Broadhurst and Sandford committed crime to fund their drug habits and were ashamed.

He said Broadhurst, who has 44 previous offences for dishonesty, was making good progress to kick drugs but had relapsed after the death of his brother.