A TEENAGE burglar who targeted elderly victims was locked up for four years yesterday.

Stewart Dobbing, 19, of Northbourne Road, Stockton, admitted five burglaries and one charge of theft, at Teesside Crown Court.

Katherine Smoult-Hawtree, prosecuting, told the court that in September last year Dobbing had gone a three-day spree in Stockton breaking into the homes of elderly people and stealing thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and other items, some with great sentimental value.

Some of the pensioners were considering moving due to the break-ins, and were greatly distressed, she said.

She said that in July he broke into a flat by climbing up a drainpipe, in August he smashed a garage window and stole a case of lager and later that month struck again.

On August 25, when a friend offered him a roof over his head when he had nowhere else to go, Miss Smoult-Hawtree said, he stole the vacuum cleaner.

Rod Hunt, for Dobbing, said the teenager had been a heroin addict but since being on remand, had remained drug free. He said Dobbing was also furthering his education while on remand and was full of remorse for his crimes.

Judge Peter Fox QC said the crimes were extremely serious and sentenced Dobbing to four years in a young offenders' institution.