A BOY was awoken when a burglar prowling round his family home entered his bedroom and put on the light, a court heard.

Intruder Mark Jones, who thought the house was unoccupied, turned on his heels and fled the property, in Peterlee, in the early hours of August 3.

Durham Crown Court heard that Jones was undeterred by the inadvertent confrontation, however, and broke into a nearby house in Jude Place, a short time later.

Chris Morrison, prosecuting, said while the householders slept upstairs, Jones searched the home and left with several items.

But a member of the public, who observed him leaving, became suspicious and drove after Jones, before manually detained him until police arrived to arrest him.

Mr Morrison said a number of stolen items from both homes targeted by Jones, including lap-top and tablet computers, were found hidden under nearby bushes.

Police return car and house keys taken by Jones to the householders.

Mr Morrison told the court: “There can only be one reason to take them and that was to go back to the house later at his leisure.

When interviewed Jones denied responsibility, a line he maintained through early court proceedings.

But , before his trial, the 29-year-old offender admitted both burglaries.

Mr Morrison said both were in the highest categories for house burglaries, as residents were in occupation, sleeping at night, while in one, a nine-year-old boy suffered the trauma of being awoken by the intruder.

“Although the property taken wasn’t substantial, these were serious night-time creep-in burglaries,” added Mr Morrison.

Nick Cartmell, for Jones, said Jones was “seriously addicted” to drink and drugs at the time.

“This was about getting a fix, looking for an opportunity to ‘score’, desperate to do so by obtaining items to sell.

“There was no evidence to suggest these houses were occupied, which is why he put the bedroom light on at the first house, so they could hardly be termed ‘creep-in’ burglaries.

“That is the action of someone expecting the house to be empty at the time.”

But, Deputy Circuit Judge Paul Worsley QC, intervened, telling Mr Cartmell: “The fact he goes out and commits another so soon after the earlier confrontation rather destroys the point.”

Mr Cartmell added that while in custody, Jones has overcome his addictions.

Jailing Worsley, of Wylam Road, North Shields, for four years, Judge Worsley said householders deserve the protection of the courts.