A BURGLAR and a would-be thief avoided prison sentences yesterday.

Teesside Crown Court was told that burglar, Mark Cooke, had been involved in a business premises break-in in which thousands of pounds worth of equipment was stolen.

Rachel Headworth, prosecuting, said Cooke and another man, Jeffrey Metcalfe, had pleaded guilty to their offences - Cooke to burglary and attempted theft and Metcalfe to attempted theft.

She said that between July 1 and 4, Cooke had broken into MG Upholstery in Chilton, on Chilton Industrial Estate, and stole £5,544 of electrical equipment and caused £120 damage.

The owner of the firm also lost £2,000 in takings because the business was not able to produce products, said Ms Headworth.

Cooke, 20, of Hunter Terrace, Chilton, was also part of a group of which went equipped with walkie talkies and a hacksaw to Europa Sofa Beds at Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate and tried to steal vehicles, she said.

Metcalfe, 21, of Severn Way, Darlington, was also part of that group, but he was not trying to steal a vehicle. She said he was not caught at the scene as the others were, and even managed to evade a police spotter plane.

Andrew Walker, for Cooke, said his client was earning good money working 12-hours-a-day seven-days-a-week and had saved money up to pay compensation.

Eric Elliott, for Metcalfe, said he had not gone to steal vehicles at the compound, but had gone thinking they were going to steal diesel. He did not steal anything, he said.

Recorder Julian Goose sentenced Cooke to a 200-hour community punishment order and ordered he pay £2,500 compensation. Metcalfe was sentenced to 120 hours community punishment.