RESIDENTS went looking for a thief during a drunken rampage in which he stole bicycles and broke into cars.

Yesterday, John Paul Walker, 23, was jailed for 15 months for the spree, which involved eight attempts to steal property in Sunnybrow, near Crook, on the same night.

Durham Crown Court heard that Walker was seen entering the rear yard of a house in Sunnybrow at 11pm on July 5.

He left moments later, pedalling away on a mountain bike taken from the yard.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said an hour later he was seen in a car, having gained access by breaking a quarter light. He was confronted by the owner and ran off with a tool box from the car.

Neighbours joined the owner searching the vicinity and found Walker in a garden holding a screwdriver. They kept watch over him until police arrived and arrested Walker.

The tool box was found in a nearby garden, as was £70 taken from another car, said Mr Towers.

Walker, formerly of School Street, Witton-le-Wear, but now of no fixed address, admitted three charges of theft and asked for five similar offences to be considered.

The court was told the spree was committed while he was subject to a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years last November, which had been imposed for a burglary offence.

Anthony Braithwaite, for Walker, said the offences were committed after he had been drinking, while he had nowhere to live.

Judge William Crawford said he had no alternative but to activate the suspended 12-month prison sentence, while adding a further three months for the latest string of thefts.