A CAREER criminal is back behind bars for stealing a pensioner's television - as she tried to stop a gang attacking her son in the street.

Mark Turner was said to have "taken advantage" of the assault in Carrick Street, Hartlepool, to sneak over a wall and in through the back door.

When the disabled 76-year-old realised what he was up to, she had to leave her son and tackle Turner, 43, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday.

The intruder was caught in her bedroom after lifting her television off the wall, but shoved her out of the way and fled, said prosecutor Rachel Masters.

Martin Scarborough, mitigating, said Turner, of nearby Miers Avenue, dumped the set in a garden nearby two weeks ago and fled from the scene.

Appearing in court via a live video-link from Holme House Prison in Stockton, he admitted burglary and was locked up for two-and-a-half years.

The court heard how he has more than 100 offences on his record, including robbery and a many burglaries, and has served a five-year term.

Judge Peter Armstrong heard how he usually cares for his infirm mother and had stayed out of trouble for ten months since his last sentence ended.