A TEENAGER was jailed yesterday following a burglary spree in his home town.

Alan Lawrence was responsible for seven break-ins at properties around Seaham, in the space of a few weeks.

Durham Crown Court was told he was brought to book thanks to an alert neighbour who noticed Lawrence leaving a house in Clarence Street.

Lesley Kirkup, prosecuting, said the elderly householder left the property in mid-morning and returned to find the rear door smashed.

"Property had been moved around, although it appeared nothing had been taken," said Mrs Kirkup. "The neighbour saw a man climbing into the backyard of a house in the street and Lawrence was found by police hiding in the yard."

Mrs Kirkup said Lawrence and an accomplice were responsible for another break-in, at a house in Union Street, where a computer and an air rifle were taken, among a large amount of other property.

Eighteen-year-old Lawrence, of Cottages Road, Seaham, admitted both burglaries and asked for five similar offences, all committed between March and April, to be considered.

The court heard that despite his relatively young age, he had 27 convictions for a total of 40 offences, including burglary, theft and handling stolen goods.

Vince Ward, mitigating, told the court he had "a desperately difficult upbringing".

"He was traumatised as a nineyear- old when he was with his six-year-old friend who drowned after falling from Seaham pier,"

he said.

"One can only wonder how two such young children came to be in that situation unsupervised."

Mr Ward said Lawrence's first conviction followed at the age of ten, and he was taking cannabis a short time later.

"He is vulnerable and easily led, but appears to have some grasp of the effect his actions have on his victims," said Mr Ward.

Imposing a 12-month sentence in a young offenders' institution, Recorder John Lodge told Lawrence: "I accept most of the 18 years of your life have been difficult.

But, my first priority is to look at the offences and then the victims."

He also asked for a letter of thanks to be sent to the alert resident whose call to police brought Lawrence's spree to a halt.