A ‘FIFTH-STRIKE’ burglar reverted to type within days of his release from a previous prison sentence.

Steven Edwards is now back behind bars, starting a sentence of three years and 36 weeks, following his short-lived taste of freedom.

It follows an overnight break-in, committed while the 28-year-old career criminal was high on diazepam, which left him with little recollection of events that night.

Durham Crown Court heard he entered a house in Peterlee, via an unlocked door, sometime after the couple living there with their 11-year-old child, went to bed, at 10.30pm on August 2.

Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, said Edwards took a lap-top computer, three handbags, a computer game and the keys to the family’s Fiat 500, parked outside the property.

A member of the public informed police that a Fiat 500 had collided with street furniture in Peterlee town centre, before driving off at speed, shortly after 6.45am on August 3.

Based on the car's description, police went to the victims’ address and the female householder discovered her handbag, containing the car keys and other items, was missing.

It was soon evident other possessions were missing.

Miss Lamballe said police received further information of the sighting of a man in an agitated state desperately trying to start a damaged vehicle, before making off, while reports were received of a man trying to sell items, including the lap-top, handbags and computer game.

Edwards was arrested later that day, found in a friend’s garden shed along with some of the stolen goods, while the damaged Fiat was parked outside.

Miss Lamballe said when interviewed, he denied responsibility for the break-in, “effectively laying the blame elsewhere.”

The court heard the family whose home was targeted were “mortified” at the break-in, particularly as their young son was sleeping in his bedroom when the intruder gained entry.

Edwards, of Sixth Street, Horden, admitted a charge of burglary.

Jonathan Walker, mitigating, said apart from the initial denials in interview, Edwards has fully accepted responsibility.

“Through me, he would like to genuinely apologise to the family concerned.

“It’s something for which he has great shame.

“It’s tragically sad that at 28 he’s about to begin another lengthy period in custody.”

Jailing him, Recorder Rachael Harrison told Edwards the only time he does not offend is when he is behind bars serving a sentence.