A CAREER burglar was jailed for five years after apparently abandoning his latest spree, targeting domestic garages, at night.

Durham Crown Court heard that Lance Wilson entered garages at three homes in Easington Village and in one got into the adjoining house as a family slept upstairs, on May 28.

Rupert Doswell, prosecuting, said Wilson took tools worth £850 from the garage, before getting into the main hallway of the property where he took £50 from a wallet.

Mr Doswell said the male householder was awoken by the family dog barking and went to investigate. All the stolen property, apart from the wallet, was found in a bush near the house.

A garage at a house in a neighbouring street was also entered, with tools and other stolen property again found hidden in nearby trees.

Wilson also forced the door of a garage in a third street, but appeared to abandon the burglary.

Mr Doswell said police were in the area after being alerted by the victims of the first break-in. Officers followed a suspicious vehicle, which was abandoned, before Wilson was arrested in a nearby field.

The 40-year-old, of Alexandra Terrace, Wheatley Hill, admitted three charges of burglary.

Mr Doswell told the court Wilson’s criminal record includes 69 offences of “dishonesty”.

Jane Waugh, mitigating, said, as with his previous offending, Wilson made early admissions.

“He’s been in and out of prison for burglary for years.

“It’s something he’s tried to get out of, and for 17 months before this he was offence-free, as he was working.

“But, when he lost his job, he lapsed back to his old ways,” added Miss Waugh.

Jailing him, Judge Christopher Prince said Wilson has shown that even aged more than 40, he does not appear to have put his offending behind him. He also ordered confiscation of the seized car.