A WOMAN returned home after going to her father's funeral to discover the house had been burgled, a court heard.

A gold sovereign ring which had belonged to the woman's father was stolen in the burglary in Whinney Banks, Middlesbrough, in July last year.

Yesterday, burglar Kenneth Maxwell, 19, of Holmewood Avenue, Easterside, Middlesbrough, appeared before Teesside Crown Court and admitted two offences of burglary. He also admitted breach of a three-year probation order for two earlier offences of burglary.

Judge Leslie Spittle sentenced Maxwell to three and a half years in a young offenders institute.

Ray Priest, prosecuting, said that two months after Maxwell was put on probation, he broke into the house in Whinney Banks while the family was at the funeral. Blood was found at the scene, which was matched to Maxwell.

Nigel Soppitt, defending, said Maxwell knew the house had been broken into earlier that day by others and he took the opportunity to go in and help himself afterwards. He knew the house was empty but didnot know the family was at a funeral.

Mr Soppitt said drugs were behind his offending, but he was now free of them