A MAN who refused to be represented in crown court told a judge barristers “screw his life over all the time”.

Michael Fortune, of Chapel Street, Evenwood, near Bishop Auckland, refused the offer of representation when he appeared at Durham Crown Court yesterday.

The 38-year-old pleaded guilty to burglaries and failing to comply with the notification requirements of a sex offender’s order in July.

Addressing Judge Christopher Prince, Fortune said: “There’s no point (in being represented). They (barristers) just screw my life over all the time. I’ve done it for the last ten years anyway.”

Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, told the court Fortune had committed one attempted dwelling burglary between July 17 and 20 and a dwelling burglary on July 19, both in Toft Hill.

The court heard he also carried out a non-dwelling burglary in The Denes, Stanhope, between July 24 and 28.

Among the items taken were a lap-top, iPod, sleeping bag, DVDs and CDs from Toft Hill and from Stanhope a car battery, bicycle, till, lead, scaffolding pole, board game, air bed, a bench and a candle.

Fortune disputed some of the items taken. He also admitted criminal damage to panes of class between July 9 and July 22.

Judge Prince said Fortune was “looking at a long sentence” and adjourned the case, adding: “I think the court should at the very least get a pre-sentence report.”

Fortune will be sentenced on September 28.