A BURGLAR in a wheelchair who was caught on CCTV leaving the scene of a "revenge" break-in with a flat-screen television on his lap was last night behind bars.

Michael Flanagan can be seen on the footage getting from his seat, climbing through a window he had just smashed, and dragging his chair in after him.

Minutes later, after disconnecting washing machine to deliberately flood the property, he emerged with the telly and wheeled himself off down the road.

The Northern Echo: CCTV footage captures Michael Flanagan breaking into the premises

Teesside Crown Court heard that career criminal Flanagan was angry with his landlord because he believed he was owed money, so targeted another of his properties.

The 44-year-old left behind tell-tale blood evidence in August last year, but he was easily identified from the film from cameras in Hartington Road, Stockton.

Defence lawyer Robert Mochrie described the night-time raid as "far from professional" and said: "Clearly, he is limited by his disability in any event.

"What must he have been thinking when he decided not only to enter the premises but then drag in his wheelchair after him? It really doesn't make elegant viewing."

The Northern Echo: Flanagan struggles to drag his wheelchair in through the window

The court heard that Flanagan lost his right leg as a result of his drug addiction, and has battled with heroin since being introduced to it in prison.

Mr Mochrie added: "Had he put any real degree of thought into this, surely any half-sensible man would know entering the premises in the way he did would have put himself at great risk of being caught because he would have had difficulty getting away."

Jailing him for a total of two years and two months for burglary and an unrelated fraud, Judge Sean Morris told the 44-year-old: "This was a revenge offence.

"You perceived that you were owed money by your landlord so you targeted one of his premises, and you used an implement – a hammer to get into the house.

"Once inside, you gratuitously disconnected the machinery so that the place was flooded, and you took a television set."

The Northern Echo: Flanagan prepares to flood the premises, before fleeing in his wheelchair with a flat screen TV

In June this year, Flanagan, of Norton Road, Stockton, sold a television set for £100 at a pawnbrokers shortly after it had been stolen from a flat nearby.

Prosecutor Jenny Haigh said a wallet, games console and lap-top were also taken, and Flanagan was again caught on CCTV being pushed into town by two women.

Donna Carter, 34, of Hartington Road, and Rebecca Thornton, 32, of Tarr Steps in nearby Ingleby Barwick, admitted burglary and will he sentenced later.