THE victim of a burglary was so traumatised that she refused to return to her house, a court was told yesterday.

Michael Robinson, 26, left such a mess behind that the woman did not want to go back, said Paul Cleasby, prosecuting.

Robinson left behind muddy footprints at three ransacked houses in Darlington, which scenes of crime officers linked to his trainers, said Mr Cleasby.

Robinson had convictions for burglary dating back nine years, Teesside Crown Court was told.

The judge, Recorder Stuart Brown, said that Robinson, who is due for release in July from a three-year jail sentence, wrote a letter saying he now understands the damage he did to people's lives.

Robinson, of Glamis Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to three burglaries in January last year; in Caledonian Road, Geneva Road and Cleveland Avenue, Darlington.

Nigel Wray, in mitigation, said Robinson had the offer of a job on his release.

He was jailed for nine months, to begin at the end of his present sentence.