A serial burglar’s bid to reform himself hit a “big bump" in the road as he returned to his former ways.

Colin Tallentire managed to steer clear of drugs and remain out of trouble following his previous conviction for a non-dwelling burglary in 2018, which earned him a 24-week prison sentence.

But after a relapse through a combination of personal and family setbacks earlier this year he targeted the home of a woman he knew in a callous burglary attempt.

Durham Crown Court heard the son of the owner, who lived at his father’s house in Maude Terrace, Bishop Auckland, heard noises as he was in bed at about midnight on April 28.

He went to sleep but was awoken by further banging some time later.

Read more: Heroin addict burgled sister's home, taking niece's Christmas present

Rebecca Brown, prosecuting, said he shouted from the top of the stairs, asking who was there and then stating that he was coming down.

When he went downstairs he found the rear door was open and his power tools, from a cupboard, were in a pile in the corner of the back yard, alongside a gym bag containing watches belonging to his father and some aftershave taken from the dining room.

Miss Brown said the defendant had been in the property and had moved the items ready to be taken, but was disturbed, so all the intended stolen goods were recovered, apart from a bag containing 50p pieces from the dining room.

Examination of nearby cctv showed Tallentire behind the property before heading down an adjoining alleyway.

Miss Brown said the partner of the home owner’s son recognised Tallentire, having known him for about ten years.

On the footage he was seen wearing a high visibility jacket, which was recovered when police went to his home to arrest him.

The defendant was interviewed on May 6 and made admissions, telling police he had some personal difficulties, took some substances and committed the burglary.

Forty-year-old Tallentire, of Cheltenham Court, St Helen Auckland, admitted a charge of burglary.

The court heard his record of 37 convictions for 49 offences includes four previous house break-ins, plus several classed as ‘non-dwelling’, for which he has served several previous prison sentences.

Read more: Man was armed with tools to steal

Jonathan Harley, in mitigation, said the defendant had been a “user and abuser” of heroin and other drugs for about 20 years until 2018.

But after the 2018 custodial sentence he was determined to, “rid himself of what he had been in the grip of for so long”, undergoing a methadone programme to wean himself off heroin.

“His health and life improved markedly, and he got a job for the first time in his adult life, on a factory assembly line.”

But Mr Harley said a combination of factors, including the loss of the job and family health issues, led to Tallentire, in his own words, “cracking up”, or "hitting a big bump in the road to recovery".

On the night of the burglary he binged on Valium pills and could not recall committing the offence.

Mr Harley told the court that the next day the defendant went to the home of the burglary victims to apologise and to try to, “smooth things over.”

He added that from August, Tallentire has stopped using illicit drugs since beginning to take medication on a monthly script and, once again, has the prospect of work with his recent employer, as business has picked up since he was laid off.

Judge Jo Kidd said the defendant appeared to have a habit of such behaviour, despite his efforts to go straight.

“The fact of the matter is that you targeted this property knowing the people who live there, in the early hours of the morning.

“It’s a gross breach of trust on your behalf.”

She imposed the mandatory minimum three-year prison sentence for three-strikes and above burglars, with a deduction of a little more than seven months to reflect his guilty plea, making a total custodial term of 876 days.

Read next: 

County Durham man returned home to discover burglary

Leeds man admits burglary at County Durham cash and carry warehouse

Man admits burglary attempts at Horden and Peterlee clubs earlier this year

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