A SERIAL burglar cashed a winning betting slip shortly after it was taken in a sneak break-in at an elderly woman’s home.

Philip Littlefair took advantage of her absence as she visited a neighbour in Bishop Auckland at about 9.15am on March 2.

Durham Crown Court heard that although she was only away from her flat, in Devon Place, for about five minutes, she returned to discover her bag was missing from a bedside table.

Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said that as well as the unclaimed winning slip, the bag contained £12 in cash and a mobile phone top-up card.

Miss Waugh said subsequent inquiries revealed the winnings – for £21.50 – were claimed when the winning slip was presented at the same branch where the woman had placed the bet, in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland , 20 minutes after the break-in.

In-store security camera footage showed Littlefair, of nearby Peel Street, Bishop Auckland, cashing in the slip.

When arrested, he claimed it was not him at the bookmakers and denied responsibility for stealing the bag.

It meant the victim, who was “extremely upset” at the intrusion into her home, had to come to court to give evidence at Littlefair’s trial in July, after he denied a charge of burglary.

The already convicted threestrike burglar was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict on the third day of the hearing.

Yesterday’s sentencing hearing was told 31-year-old Littlefair had previous burglary offences dating from his juvenile days, and three since the “three strikes” regulations came into force, in April 1999.

Chris Baker, mitigating, said there was not a lot he could say to the court as Littlefair still denied responsibility for the break-in.

But Mr Baker added that it appeared to have been an unpremeditated, opportunist offence after the householder left the door open.

He added that there were “glimmers of hope” because while in custody Littlefair had reduced his methadone intake, in an effort to curb his heroin addiction.

Judge John Evans told him: “You were convicted by the jury of this offence and you know the court has no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence starting from the mandatory three years.”

Judge Evans jailed him for three-and-a-half years.