AN “opportunistic” burglar was pinpointed as a neighbour of the victims had seen him in the vicinity of the targeted house.

Wayne Morrell took advantage of an unlocked back door to enter the property in St Helen Auckland overnight, on May 13/14.

Durham Crown Court heard he took a mobile phone, an energy bar, some cans of lager and a tobacco pouch from the house.

Jonathan Harley, prosecuting, said Morrell’s name was put forward as a potential perpetrator as a near neighbour of the burgled family knew him.

Morrell’s home, not far away, was searched and the stolen items, barring the phone, were recovered from his garden shed.

He claimed he was drunk at the time and had little memory of his actions, but described it as, “an opportunistic” burglary.

The male householder said it was unnerving to think an intruder was roaming round downstairs at a time his children were asleep upstairs.

Mr Harley said two nights after the burglary, Morrell was one of two men who “secreted themselves” in toilets at the Newgate Centre, Bishop Auckland, at closing time.

They later wandered round, damaged a children’s ride, tried to take money from a photo booth and placed items in a bag to remove, before attempting to enter Wilkinson’s store.

When later asked about those events, Morrell again said he had little recollection, this time due to the effects of heroin.

Mr Harley said Morrell’s co-accused was jailed for 24 weeks for the damage and attempted burglary at the Newgate Centre.

Morrell, 39, of Leazes Lane, St Helen Auckland, admitted the house burglary and asked for attempted burglary at the Newgate Centre to be considered.

The court heard he has 34 convictions for 88 offences and the latest house break-in made him a “three strikes” burglary.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said Morrell had struggled with substance misuse for much of his adult life, with the knock-on commission of many of his crimes, in the process.

But Mr Baker said Morrell made immediate admissions and has made progress since he was admitted to custody in the hope it will prevent him falling for the same pitfalls in his future life.

Jailing him for the mandatory three years, less almost five months discounted for his guilty pleas, Judge Jonathan Carroll said his actions had destroyed the burglary victims’ “sense of well-being and security” in their own home.