A DOZY burglar who took photos of himself on a stolen camera has been jailed for 20 months.

Jason Noble also took snaps of his family before arranging to sell some of his haul - including the camera - back to his victim for £80 cash.

However, the 40-year-old turned up at the arranged meeting place to find the police waiting for him.

He was caught red-handed with a bag  of the stolen items and was still  wearing the victim's watch, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Jailing Noble, of Esk Road, Darlington, Judge John Walford, said: “This is a watershed in your life. Forty is seen in that way, and up until now you have largely wasted your life.

"And not only wasted it but caused a lot of harm to other people."

Sue Jacobs, prosecuting, said that Noble, who admitted burglary, entered the flat in Swan Street, Darlington, through an unlocked door during the early hours of Wednesday, February 13, as the occupant slept.

He stole cameras and photo equipment worth more than £1,700 together with the watch, mobile phone, wallet and jewellery.

Ms Jacobs said that days later the victim’s niece, in Spain at the time, received a call from the stolen phone offering to  sell the stolen items back for £80.

The victim alerted police who then lay in wait for Noble.

Noble, who started offending at the age of 15, appeared for sentencing via video link to Durham Prison.

The court heard his extensive record included burglaries, thefts, shoplifting and drug offences, and he was on licence after being released from prison in April last year, following a four-year sentence.

His barrister, Christine Egerton, said while on remand in prison, Noble had completed a thinking skills course as well as a joinery course, and was tackling his drug addiction.

Judge Walford said: "This is a serious crime to break into a property at night while they are there and steal their cherished property.”

The victim, who asked not to be named, told The Northern Echo: “This was an opportunistic break-in and I want to thank the police who have done a brilliant job.

“We need to get people like this off the streets for the peace of mind of other people.”