A MAN who helped to ram-raid a pharmacist's shop was jailed for two years yesterday.

John Mount, 22, of Greenway, Thorntree, Middlesbrough, admitted a charge of burglary, one of aggravated taking of a vehicle without consent, driving while disqualified, having no insurance, failing to surrender and three of handling stolen goods when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court.

David Lamb, prosecuting, said a Vauxhall Nova was stolen from Middlesbrough on May 25. At 4.30am that morning it was used in a "ram-raid type of burglary" at a pharmacy in High Green, Great Ayton, near Middlesbrough.

The thieves, including Mount, caused £5,000 of damage by reversing through the main doors of the shop, and then stole £580 of goods from it.

Mr Lamb said that on August 15, Mount was found driving a car while disqualified and had no insurance. Police found a mower, a drill and a strimmer in the car, and Mount admitted dishonestly handling them.

Jamie Hill, for Mount, said he was incredibly weak-willed and was easily influenced by other people. He said Mount had been very drunk on the night of the ram-raid but said there were signs he was trying to set himself on the right track, and was trying to get help for his problems.