A WAYWARD young criminal’s farewell remark to an accomplice on arrest proved prophetic, a court heard.

Teenage three-strikes burglar Steven James Renwick was found hiding in a garden near an archery/tennis club, in Durham, following a chase through a church cemetery, in the early afternoon of Saturday, January 21.

Durham Crown Court heard he was found to be in possession of a knife, six diazepam tablets, and £285 taken in an earlier day-time break-in at living premises above the Fighting Cocks pub in the city centre.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said as Renwick was detained by police he shouted to his accomplice: “See you in five years.”

He was questioned by police over the pub flat break-in, in which there was a confrontation, before he fled by smashing a window.

But he was also arrested in relation to two sneak burglaries and a further attempted break-in at student digs around the city centre.

Renwick told police he carried the knife for protection in case he was approached by drug dealers to whom he owed money.

He was on bail at the time after previous burglaries at a house in Front Street, Langley Moor, near Durham, and a joint affray in which a man suffered a fractured jaw, in nearby Langley Park - offences committed last year.

Renwick, 18, of Park Close, Langley Park, appeared before the court, via video link to nearby Durham Prison, for sentence, having admitted four counts of burglary, affray, possessing a bladed article in public, possessing a class C drug, and theft.

He asked for two further burglaries and an attempted burglary to be considered.

Christopher McKee said Renwick’s offending was linked to his abuse of drugs, but he now hopes to go on to lead a law-abiding life.

Imposing a total sentence of five years and 11 days in a young offenders’ institution, Judge Christopher Prince told Renwick his comment on arrest proved accurate.