A BURGLAR has landed a lengthy spell behind bars after returning close to the scene of the crime, a court heard.

Kevin John Agar gained entry to the house, in Blackhill, Consett, via an insecure upstairs window, after the family living there went out for the day, on September 25.

Durham Crown Court heard he made an untidy search of all the rooms and appeared to have planned to take a number of electrical devices, the larger items of which he placed near to a window, as if ready to be taken away.

He also took keys to a Renault Clio car parked outside.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said the family returned home in late afternoon to discover the house had been burgled and found the items placed ready to be removed.

But, Mr Baker said all the goods were recovered, as those items taken out of the house were left in the Clio, which was found abandoned by police only 20 yards from the house.

Mr Baker said it appeared that Agar had driven away and returned with a friend possibly to assist in the removal of the larger goods.

A cap belonging to Agar was recovered from the car, while police inquiries also led to the recovery of one of his shoes.

As a result he was arrested the following day and gave a statement, in which he admitted responsibility for the burglary and taking the car.

He also admitted having stolen £1.60 in a theft from a parked car.

Thirty-two-year-old Agar, of Derwent Street, Consett, admitted burglary, driving without insurance and while unlicensed.

He also asked for the theft from the car to be taken into consideration.

The court heard that the conviction meant he is now classed as a “three-strike” burglar, following similar offences in 2013 and 2014, for which he received suspended sentences in both cases.

Joe Hedworth, for Agar, said he was fully aware of the likely sentence, given that it was his third qualifying domestic burglary.

“He simply wants to offer his sincere apologies to the family concerned,” added Mr Hedworth.

Recorder Eric Elliott said having received two warning shots “across the bows”, with the suspended sentences, Agar had spurned his chances offered to him previously by the courts.

He imposed a three-year mandatory sentence for three-strikes burglars, with a fifth, about seven months, “discount”, taken off for Agar’s early ‘guilty’ plea, giving an 876-day jail term.