A FLEEING burglar ended up shouting for help from the police officer pursuing him, after breaking his leg when jumping from a roof onto a lawn below, a court heard.

Thomas Ralph Humphrey was seen climbing from a rear window at a house in Framwellgate Moor, Durham, by a police officer alerted by the sound of the house alarm, at 2.30pm on June 11.

Durham Crown Court heard the officer saw a ground floor window of the semi-detached house in Dryburn Park had been smashed to gain entry.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said the constable saw Humphrey climbing from a rear upstairs window, walking along a ledge, before jumping onto a lower roof.

Humphrey was seen going along from roof to roof, before leaving the officer’s view.

Mr Towers said the officer heard a voice saying: “Hello, I’m over here.”

Humphrey was found lying in great pain on grass in the neighbouring garden.

It was later confirmed that he broke one leg and suffered a fractured ankle in the other.

“Appropriate medical help was sought and he was found in possession of a Pandora necklace, worth £160, and also a gold chain necklace and two gold rings, all of which, together with an iPhone, he stole from inside the neighbouring house.”

Mr Towers said the burglary victim was on holiday, but it was later confirmed one of the items of jewellery taken by Humphrey was her wedding ring.

Humphrey, a drug user, told police he had left Lanchester Road Hospital, a mental health facility, near Durham, shortly beforehand, as he was “rattling”.

He said he searched every room to take property to sell to buy drugs.

The court heard he has 14 convictions on his record, but there was a long crime-free gap from 2009 to last year.

A probation report read to the court stated that he had mental health issues, including possible drug-induced psychosis, but had sought help from a substance misuse team.

The probation officer said Humphrey’s return to offending over the last two years coincided with his drug misuse.

Humphrey, 36, of Greenbank Road, Darlington, admitted burglary.

Recorder Nicholas Lumley said he was persuaded by the report, “to draw back” from imposing a jail sentence.

He passed a two-year community order, with 20 rehabilitation activity days, and weekly drug testing. He will also be subject to the three-month 10am to 6pm home curfew.