A HOLIDAYMAKER was greeted on her return home by being burgled by her next door neighbour.

The victim had only just unlocked the property, in Burns Close, Stanley, County Durham, after the holiday in Cyprus, when the incident took place on September 25 last year.

Durham Crown Court heard she placed her mobile phone and some Cypriot-issue cigarettes on the kitchen bench, before going upstairs to unpack her suitcase.

David Callan, prosecuting, said the back door was closed, but unlocked.

When she came back downstairs, the cigarettes and mobile phone were missing.

A woman living nearby called to say she had seen Lee Cariss, the victim's immediate next door neighbour at the time, entering the house.

Police were informed and although Cariss was not at home, he was seen later at his sister's address.

Mr Callan said officers saw him stuffing a mobile phone behind a cushion in an armchair.

It was retrieved, while Cariss was also in possession of the distinctive Cypriot-labelled cigarettes.

Mr Callan said Cariss gave "the ridiculous" explanation that he bought the items from his neighbour.

The court was told Cariss, 28, who admitted burglary at a previous hearing, has not been living in Burns Close since the incident.

Peter Kilgour, in mitigation, said he has been staying with his parents, in nearby Tweed Terrace, but there has been no further trouble with his former neighbour, who is now understood to have moved away.

"While this was a burglary, it was more of a sneak-in theft and there was no confrontation," he said. "He accepts he has a problem with drink and would value any help."

Judge Tim Hewitt said Cariss came close to being jailed.

"The only things which have saved you from being locked up are your guilty plea and the fact you have no previous burglary convictions. I accept it was more of a sneak-in day-time theft as opposed to a night-time burglary.

"I'm told the lady has moved away. I hope to a better, safer area."

Cariss was sentenced to 150-hours community punishment as part of a two-year supervision order, and ordered to pay £150 costs.