A thief who stole his grandparents' life savings was spared jail after a judge heeded a plea for mercy made by his grandmother before she died.

Kevin Anthony Joyce took a purse containing £3,000 from under a mattress at the home of his elderly grandparents, Alfred and Elizabeth Batstone.

Durham Crown Court heard he sneaked upstairs when he visited their home, in Peterlee, east Durham, to repair their computer and took the purse, before leaving the house, said David Crook, prosecuting.

Jane Waugh, mitigating, presented a letter to the court written by 75-year-old Mrs Batstone, who has since suffered a stroke and died, urging the judge to show mercy to her grandson.

Ms Waugh said Joyce had spent many of the past few years in custody, but his grandparents continued to support him, and he no longer had any drug debts.

Joyce, 23, of Leven Walk, Peterlee, admitted theft.

Although he stood to be re-called to serve an outstanding part of a previous prison sentence, Judge Esmond Faulks said in the exceptional circumstances that he felt it right to "follow the recommendation" of Joyce's "generous and forgiving" grandparents.

He imposed a 100-hour community punishment order and 12-month community rehabilitation order.