A GAMING addict who was used as a driver for a burglary gang dodged jail - with some job advice from a judge.

Ethan Roddam was told he would never make the grade as a software designer and should avoid a career in crime.

Instead, Judge Lea Spittle told the 21-year-old to do some unpaid work for the community as he spared him prison.

The judge told him: "You never know, you might learn something that you enjoy that can give you a chance in the future."

Roddam was recruited by two career criminals to drive them to raids where they stole car keys and expensive motors.

They got away with a £34,600 Audi in the first, a £25,000 BMW in the second, and a £13,000 LandRover Freelander a day later.

Teesside Crown Court was told that Roddam immediately admitted his part in the January plot when police questioned him.

The suspected burglars flatly denied involvement and there is not enough evidence to charge them said prosecutor Jenny Haigh.

"Apart from Mr Roddam's admissions, there is no other evidence, whatsoever," she said. "The others are known to the police."

Judge Spittle told Roddam: "I am satisfied you became involved in these offences by reason of the influence of others who are more criminally experienced than you.

"You were stupid and naive to go along with it, and you put yourself in a very precarious position.

"You seem to spend most of your time staying in the house, playing electronic games. It might be fun, but it's not much good preparation for anything else.

"You are never going to be a games designer in Silicon Valley. You need to get into the habit of doing some work, and you never know, you might learn something you enjoy and that might give you the prospect or the chance of something in the future as far as work is concerned."

Roddam, of Royston Close, Stockton, admitted one burglary and asked for another two to be taken into consideration.

He was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision and 200 hours of unpaid community work.

Uzma Khan, mitigating, said: "He was greatly influenced by his relatives, who are career criminals.

"He apologises to the court and the victims, and he appreciates the long-lasting impact. He was compensated with little means."

The raids were carried out in Stockton and nearby Eaglescliffe and Stillington, and in the first, a £5,000 Rolex watch, two computers, an iPad, an iPod and cash were taken