A TEENAGER who threatened the mother of his underage girlfriend with a sword just days after burgling their home has been sent to a young offenders' institute.

Lewis Dodd's mother called the police in the early hours of New Year's Day because she was so worried about the safety of his intended target.

The 18-year-old was furious that his 15-year-old girlfriend's mother contacted the police when she believed her daughter was pregnant.

Dodd was arrested by police as he made his way to the woman's Darlington home with the sword rapped in a black plastic bag.

Jonathan Walker, prosecuting, said the teenager and her mother had recently moved to the town and Dodd had formed a relationship with the 15-year-old.

Following police intervention the teenager broke into the family home and ransacked it before stealing jewellery, electrical goods and boxing memorabilia.

"The defendant contacted her on December 31 into January 1 suggesting they meet up," he said. "The defendant threatened to visit the house armed with a sword and inflict harm on her.

"The police were called by the defendant's mother as she feared for the safety of the people at the address."

Mr Walker added: "He was caught carrying a sword rapped up in a black plastic bag on the way to the woman's home.

"The sword was designed to cause harm to the young girl's mother as she had the gall to call the police."

The counsel said the woman was dreading the day when the teenager of released from custody.

Dodd, of Gilling Crescent, Darlington, pleaded guilty burglary between December 27-30 last year and possession of a bladed article on New Year's Day.

Jamie Adams, in mitigation, said his client had struggled with alcohol problems for a number of years despite his young age and had told him that 'he drank until he blanked out'.

He said: "He has had problems for a long time that led him to drink the way he has done for a long time."

Mr Adams said Dodd is hoping to turn his life around after enduring a 'short, sharp shock' in custody while on remand.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough Judge Paul Watson QC sent Dood to a young offenders' institute for ten months for both offences as the offences were so serious on custody would be a suitable sentence.

He said: "I feel that certainly towards the end of last year, even though you are just 18, you had a serious problem with alcohol. You committed a very serious offence breaking to the house, stealing a great deal of property that was of personal value, sentimental value, as well as intrinsic value itself.

"To aggravate matters you were in possession of a sword when you were arrested, which you had with you which you said you had taken to assault her."

Dodd was also issued with a three-year restraining order to keep him away from his victim.