Convicted thief Steven Burns, 25, was sentenced to 70 years in prison this week after being found guilty of charges including burglary with a deadly weapon, criminal confinement and robbery resulting in bodily injury.

Burns, of Lafayette, Indiana, also had another 180 days added to his sentence after calling presiding Judge Steven Meyer a "cowardly b***h" during the sentencing hearing at the Tippecanoe County courthouse on Tuesday.

Earlier this month Burns was found guilty of robbing and beating an elderly couple during a break-in during the early hours of August 19 this year.

According to court documents Burns and two accomplices donned masks before entering the victims' home via a window shortly before 2am. They were armed with handguns and demanded cash.