A CAREER criminal was spared jail for a burglary after a judge heard how his life had been rocked by a series of tragedies.

Dennis Tonkin - described in court as "a thorough nuisance to your community" - was given a suspended prison sentence.

The 41-year-old's lawyer told Teesside Crown Court: "He needs to grow up. That's what he said in the cells this morning."

The court heard how Tonkin was one of three men who broke into the house in Peel Street, Middlesbrough, earlier this month.

Nothing was stolen, but there had been an "untidy" search and some ransacking, said prosecutor David Crook.

Tonkin - who has a list of previous convictions running to 33 pages - was also the subject of an anti-social behaviour order.

The father-of-three admitted breaching the order, two charges of criminal damage and burglary at an earlier court hearing.

His solicitor Scott Taylor told Judge Tony Briggs said he had been encouraged by the other men to join them in the break-in.

Mr Taylor said Tonkin has struggled with heroin and crack cocaine addiction in the past, and is in need of "intensive support.

"He has had many difficulties in his life, but in the past six to nine months, there have been considerably more," he said.

"He has had his friend die of suicide, his son had a car crash and has serious head injuries, and he assists with his care.

"His ex-partner and mother of two of his children died as well . . . he struggles with his grief and is desperate for help.

"He is now the only parent for two of his children . . . and he has suffered the loss of people close to him."

Judge Briggs imposed a 12-month jail sentence, which was suspended for two years, with Probation Service supervision.

He told Tonkin: "All your mitigation - and I accept it is considerable mitigation - is used up. This is your last chance.

"You have got an appalling record. You have been a thorough nuisance to your local community for very many years."