A SERVICE veteran suffering post traumatic stress disorder, epilepsy and other health problems was spared a prison sentence despite burgling the home of a neighbour.

Fifty-year-old Gary Morley, of High Street, Eldon Lane, near Bishop Auckland, took three tv sets, a Playstation game and £5 in cash after smashing a window to gain access to the home of a neighbour, who was away overnight, on January 27.

Morley, linked through DNA matches on blood left at the scene, admitted burglary on the day of his recent scheduled trial.

Having read pre-sentence reports and a letter submitted on the defendant’s behalf, Judge Christopher Prince told Morley’s counsel, Duncan McReddie, in exceptional circumstances, given his client’s health difficulties, he would pass a three-year community order, with 30-Probation supervised activity days, ten in each of the three years of the order.

But he warned Morley any breaches would, “almost certainly” result in him facing a prison sentence.