A MAN involved in part of a burglary spree in a market town has escaped an immediate prison sentence after a court heard he has been taken under the wing of his sister out of the area.

Simon Kernan and co-accused Raymond Bragg were convicted after a trial at Durham Crown Court of a house burglary, in Cambridge Terrace, Barnard Castle, early on Sunday March 4.

The court was told a laptop, iPhone and bank cards were taken.

Phillip Morley, prosecuting, said the cards were used to make four transactions, at premises in Darlington, that morning.

CCTV analysis led to the arrest of 50-year-old Bragg on March 15, and a search of his home address, in Harry Street, revealed items stolen in a series of shed break-ins, also in Barnard Castle, overnight from March 3 to 4.

Kernan, 39, who was living in Ann’s Terrace, Darlington, at the time, was not arrested until June 19.

Both admitted fraudulent use of the stolen bank cards but denied the house burglary.

Bragg also denied burglary of three garden sheds, plus the attempted burglary of another shed, all in Barnard Castle, on March 3-4.

He claimed someone, “from the criminal fraternity”, called at his home early on March 4 and gave him the stolen bank cards in lieu of a debt. He then called for Kernan before going on the short spending spree.

The jury rejected the account and returned guilty verdicts on all the charges denied.

Kernan, now of Brougham Street, Penrith, who remained on bail throughout, returned for sentence at the court on Friday.

Nicholas Rooke, mitigating, said Kernan has suffered with both physical and mental health problems which saw him resort to drug use, but he has now left previous associates behind and moved to his sister’s address, in Cumbria, where he receives assistance from a community rehabilitation team.

Recorder Ian Atherton passed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, during which Kernan must attend 20 probation activity days. Bragg, who is in custody, will be sentenced on September 26.