A WOULD-BE burglar has been jailed after he was filmed while trying to break into a house.

Gary Daglish, 36, was spotted in the Rainton Meadows estate, near Houghton-le-Spring, at about 4.30am on July 10 last year.

Armed with a screwdriver, Daglish, of Bridle Way, Houghton, tried to break into a house – but his behaviour was filmed by a resident, who then called the police.

He was arrested after police found him in the back garden of a house, holding a small screwdriver covered by a sock. The outer pane of a patio door had been smashed.

He admitted attempted burglary and going equipped for a burglary when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on December 11 and was jailed for three years on January 28.

Detective Constable Neil Swainston, of Northumbria Police, said: “This was a great example of the public working alongside police, and the caller’s quick and accurate reporting allowed us to locate the suspect before he gained access to somebody’s home and made off with their belongings.”

He added: “Burglary is a very serious crime that can have a lasting and harmful effect on residents and communities.

“Incidents such as this can make people feel intimidated or frightened in their own homes. It is important the public are made aware that we will do everything we can to tackle these types of offences.”