A REGULAR offender went on a near month-long “crime spree” in the weeks after his release from his previous prison sentence, a court heard.

Brian Philip Stevenson gained his freedom, on Probation supervision, on December 16, after serving sentences totalling 22-months for attempted robbery and affray.

Durham Crown Court heard only a week later he was asked to go along with others on a house burglary and took part in two others, as well as handling goods stolen in a fourth, in following weeks.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said Stevenson was arrested after driving off in a car taken following the theft of the keys in an earlier house break-in, on January 14.

Mr Towers said police patrol officers saw a Ford Ka being driven erratically, swerving round the carriageway, on the A181 at Wheatley Hill, east Durham, at 12.50am.

They signalled for the Ka to pull over and Stevenson gave them the name of another man, who he knew.

Mr Towers said he was arrested and booked in at the police station under that name.

In order to satisfy officers as to his identity, he volunteered a matter on the record of that man which he knew about.

Stevenson also gave a breathalyser reading showing double the drink drive limit level of alcohol in his system, and, in due course, was charged under the wrong name.

Mr Towers said it was five days later, while he was still in police custody, that a finger print test result was obtained revealing Stevenson’s true identity.

He told police he had been going to hand himself in and “confess” his crimes days earlier, but he was arrested before he could do so.

Mr Towers said in another of the break-ins, at a house in Coxhoe, near Durham, on New Year’s Eve, the family’s Volkswagen Passat was taken along with items of sentimental jewellery, to a total value of £9,000.

Stevenson admitted being the look-out with three other men participating in that offence, as well as being involved in another burglary, at a house in Wingate, east Durham, from which a number of possessions were also taken.

The 29-year-old defendant, of Westfield Road, Bishop Auckland, admitted doing an act to pervert the course of justice, plus driving while disqualified, with excess alcohol and without insurance, relating to the Ford Ka incident.

He also admitted burglary, and asked for two other house break-ins, plus one of handling stolen goods, to be taken into consideration.

Paul Abrahams, mitigating, said it was only based on the defendant’s admissions to police that he was linked to some of the crimes, reflecting a change from his previous outlook when questioned about his past offences.

The court heard that his 81 previous convictions are for a range of offences, but do not include burglaries until the latest case.

Jailing him for a total of 38 months, Judge Christopher Prince told Stevenson: “You’re 29 and have a bad record, albeit not for burglary.

“You were only released from custody on December 16 last year, subject to supervision, and you went on a crime spree, causing great distress to some of those affected in the process.”

Stevenson was also banned from driving for a total of 55 months.