A BURGLAR who smashed his way into a funeral home before stealing more than £1,000 in cash has been branded 'thoughtless and selfish’.

Lee McQuilling used a hammer to batter his way into the Fawcett and Hetherington funeral home before ransacking the office and stealing the money and a cheque for £3,500.

The 35-year-old targeted the building in Eston, near Middlesbrough, just before 5.30am on March 31, smashing his way – all caught on the firm's CCTV.

Teesside Crown Court heard how traces of blood the defendant left at the scene led officers to his door and he was arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Harry Hadfield, prosecuting, said McQuilling stole £1,030 in cash after ransacking the office.

He said: "At 5.25am he smashed the external door with a hammer and once inside broke a stained glass window.

"When the complainant got there – he described the scene as ransacked.

"There was a cheque worth £3,500 in a tin, the defendant stole that but the complainant managed to stop it before it was cashed."

Mr Hadfield said the company was forced to install steel shutters costing £1,000 to protect the premises following the burglary.

McQuilling, of Station Road, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to burglary.

His legal representative, Nigel Soppitt, said McQuilling had lost his job at the start of the Covid pandemic.

He added: "He thought he was on rock bottom and he committed this thoughtless and selfish act. He says he once he is able to, he will pay for the damage caused to the funeral home."

Judge Jonathan Carroll jailed McQuilling for eight months for the burglary and a further three months for breaching a suspended sentence for a burglary on a social club to steal booze.

He said: "It was not just the cash loss to the company, it was the financial loss incurred since to get security shutters fitted and have the door fixed. There's also the fact the premises a funeral directors; there's the impact and distress on people who use the business."