A MAN who twice burgled the home of an elderly neighbour while she was in hospital receiving cancer treatment was yesterday jailed for 30 months.

Richard Lawson gained access to the premises using a key entrusted to his grandmother, who was checking the house while the 80-year-old neighbour was in hospital.

Durham Crown Court heard he took a bank card and acquired its PIN number before withdrawing £1,640 from the victim's account to spend on drugs.

Accompanied by a teenage girl, the card was also used to buy goods worth £646 from eight shops in Durham and Darlington.

The first break-in was in November 2003, but after the victim was re-admitted to hospital the following month, Lawson again gained access to her house.

This time, he took envelopes in which she had left £75 for her grandchildren's Christmas presents, plus her pension book.

Mark Giuliani, prosecuting, said the break-ins only came to light when a relative of the victim discovered her pension book and the cash missing on calling at her home in Framwellgate Moor, Durham.

The previous theft of the woman's bank card only emerged when her statement arrived.

Closed circuit TV pictures taken outside banks at the time of withdrawals revealed Lawson using the card, and his fingerprint was also found in the house.

Lawson, 23, of Ashleigh Avenue, Framwellgate Moor, denied responsibility when arrested, but last month admitted two charges of burglary, theft of the £1,640, plus eight counts of obtaining by deception, relating to the credit card purchases.

Colin Harvey, mitigating, said Lawson, who was tearful in the dock throughout the hearing, is sincerely remorseful.

"He knows they were mean offences at a time when his judgement, and those around him, were clouded by drugs to escape the misery of normal daily life."

Jailing him, Recorder Brian Forster QC told Lawson: "These were mean and serious offences.

"You were aware of her age and of the fact that she was in hospital at the time."

The court heard that the victim is now in a nursing home.