A BURGLAR who tried to cash foreign money destined for charity escaped a jail sentence yesterday.

Lee Winship, 25, of St Paul's Road, Stockton, admitted three charges of burglary, one of handling stolen goods and one of obtaining property by deception, at Teesside Crown Court.

Sarah Mallett, prosecuting, said on September 28 last year Winship sneaked into an industrial unit in West Row, Stockton, and stole a worker's jacket.

On September 30, there was a burglary at a house in Bishopton Road, Stockton. The only property taken was a collection of foreign currency, which the homeowner had been collecting for the Butterwick Hospice.

The currency, said Miss Mallett, included rare Nigerian notes, which Winship tried to cash at a supermarket. He admitted having the notes, but denied being involved in the burglary.

On November 1, Winship broke into a house in Stockton and stole shorts and a vaccuum cleaner. Two days later, he broke into another house and stole gold chains, which he tried to pawn, and a camcorder and camera.

Three similar offences were taken into consideration by the judge.

Nigel Soppitt, for Winship, said his client had been addicted to drugs, but was now drug-free and deeply ashamed of what he had done.

Recorder Julian Norris put Winship on a 12-month community rehabilitation order.