A career criminal with no legs escaped jail yesterday after a court heard he was now on the straight and narrow.

The distinctive appearance of Robert William Bate led to his arrest when he was identified by a home-owner who foiled an attempted burglary on his house.

Bate, 22, who has a string of previous convictions, mainly for burglary and shoplifting, had drank 16 pints before he was cajoled into acting as a look-out for two friends during the burglary in Easington Colliery, County Durham, in June last year.

The owner of the property, a security guard, was asleep in the sitting room of his home when he heard a disturbance at the open lounge window at 4am.

Sean Dodds, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court that the house-owner saw a face at the window then saw two other men, one of whom appeared to be sitting down.

In a police statement the home-owner said: "At first I thought this male was sitting down but I noticed that he had no legs.

"The male was propelling himself using his hands and backside and moving very quickly."

The three would-be burglars fled the scene and 45 yards away from the house, the owner said he saw one man pick Bate up and carry him away.

Bate was arrested the following afternoon and later admitted being a look-out.

Bate, of Jasmine Avenue, Seaham, County Durham, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary at an earlier hearing.

Peter Schofield, defending, told the court yesterday that Bate had been a reformed character since August last year. He had been foolish to become involved in the attempted burglary, but he had had a hard life since he lost his legs at the age of nine, and also came from a broken home.

Bate was sentenced to a community rehabilitation order for two years, with the condition that he undertakes an offending behaviour programme.

Recorder Jeffrey Lewis told him: "I am giving you a chance today. I hope you take it for your own good and for the good of the community."