A MAN who thought he was helping people move house told a court yesterday how he was unwittingly caught up in a burglary.

Scott Christopher Hammond, 22, admitted a charge of handling stolen goods when he appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe.

Jacqueline Gibson, prosecuting, told the court the burglary took place in Stewart Street, Darlington, on February 15.

Goods worth a total of £1,230 were stolen from the property.

Miss Gibson said Hammond had driven the two men, who have since admitted and been sentenced for burglary, to the property without realising what was going to happen.

He stayed outside while his companions started to load the car with items from the house.

Miss Gibson said: "The prosecution say he must have known at that stage that something dishonest was taking place."

Laura Saunders-Jerrom, for Hammond, said her client had a reputation for helping people, but would not be doing so again.

She said his suspicions were aroused when the burglars ran back into the house for more property.

She said: "His mistake was when realising he was involved he didn't get out of it."

She said Hammond had been mortified at the suggestion that he had been involved in a burglary and had been taunted and harassed in the cells.

Hammond, of Aberdeen Road, Darlington, was given a six-month conditional discharge, ordered to pay £50 compensation and £35 prosecution costs.