A GREEN-FINGERED burglar attempted to cover his tracks by gardening for his victims.

Terence Morrow pinpointed homes of wealthy professionals before offering to carry out casual garden jobs for his intended victims.

Durham Crown Court heard that, having worked at the houses, he also had a ready-made excuse available when evidence of his fingerprints was recovered from the burgled premises.

He was caught out after cutting himself on broken glass while breaking into a sheltered housing complex in Horden, east Durham.

Ron Mitchell, prosecuting, said he was unable to explain the presence of his bloodstains.

Morrow, 23, of Fifth Avenue, Horden, was yesterday jailed for three-and-a-half years, after admitting two counts of burglary and asking for two similar charges to be taken into consideration.

Mr Mitchell said Morrow escaped with a lap-top computer belonging to the son of a householder in Eastfield, Peterlee, and a gold watch and other property worth a total of £1,200, at a neighbouring property. Both offences were committed last April.

Mark Styles, said in mitigation that Morrow has had drug problems, which had played a part in his offending.

But a drug treatment and testing order, imposed by the courts previously, appeared to have failed to address his offending.

"The probation service has given up on him and he realises it must be custody today, but he hopes to put his offending behind him when he is eventually released," Mr Styles said.

Morrow crossed the threshold for an automatic sentence of more than three years under the "three strikes" legislation, having two previous recent burglary convictions.