A BURGLAR was caught in the act after triggering a security alarm when he smashed his way into a convenience store at night, a court heard.

Police responding to the alarm at the Spar shop, in Shotton Colliery, found intruder Gary John Hill behind the counter, emptying packets of cigarettes from a gantry into a bag.

Durham Crown Court heard that a shop employee, who lives nearby, was already at the premises, in Salter’s Lane, inspecting damage after also being alerted by the sound of the alarm, shortly after midnight on July 9.

Phillip Morley, prosecuting, said a side window was smashed to gain entry, causing the alarm to go off, while a roller shutter was damaged covering the cigarette rack.

A cash machine and a cash till had also been tampered with, while Hill had also opened several parcels stored behind the counter, awaiting collection by customers.

Mr Morley said it was not clear if any items were taken from the parcels.

Hill, who was detained at the scene, made no comment to questions in his subsequent police interview.

But, appearing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court, the following day, he admitted a single count of non-dwelling burglary.

Due to his record for both domestic and commercial burglaries, Hill, of AJ Cook Terrace, in Shotton Colliery, was remanded to remain in custody and committed for sentence at the crown court.

He appeared via video link from nearby Durham Prison at the sentencing hearing.

Mr Morley told the court the 37-year-old defendant has 75 convictions for 161 offences, 25 for burglary.

As a three-strike house burglar, he served a 29-month sentence for a previous domestic break-in and was still on licence following at the time of the latest offence.

Jonathan Devlin, mitigating for Hill, said, given his record, he was realistic enough to know there was only going to be a custodial sentence in this case.

“This was not a planned or sophisticated offence.

“The alarm sounded and he was still there when the police arrived.

“Before that he had a row with his partner, and he was very drunk at the time.

“Of course, that is a two-edged sword when it comes to sentence.”

Mr Devlin said Hill has been addicted to heroin since his early 20s but is fighting it, and is now on a reduced methadone prescription.

Jailing him for eight months, Judge Christopher Prince told Hill: “You were caught red-handed in these premises and you have a long record for burglary.. It would have been 12 months, but for your early guilty plea.”