A SERIES of break-ins was carried out by a man who was living rough with his partner within months of his release from prison.

David Harrison, 24, burgled homes, mainly in Peterlee and Horden, in east Durham, taking high-value electrical items.

Durham Crown Court heard he also unsuccessfully attempted to break into a house in the Farringdon area of Sunderland, after throwing a brick through a window.

Following the noise of the impact he ran away .

Harrison, who following his arrest admitted all his offending, was yesterday jailed for three years and eight months.

He admitted three charges of burglary, between December and March, and asked for a further seven similar offences, and one of attempted burglary, to be considered.

Bob Spragg, for Harrison, told the court that he was released from a previous sentence for several burglaries, last October.

But within two months, he was back to his former ways.

"He lived with his mother for a short time after his release from prison, but that arrangement came to an end and he found himself living rough," said Mr Spragg.

"It is to his credit, that he wishes to make a clean breast of things. He took police on a tour of the district and pointed out burglaries he had carried out for which there was little or no evidence.

"It is unlikely these offences would have been solved had he not owned up to them."

Jailing Harrison, Judge Peter Armstrong told him: "You were released from a 40-month sentence for burglary and within months you were living rough and burgling houses again to support yourself and your partner."

But he said Harrison should not consider himself a "write-off", and told him he hopes he goes on to make something of his life, when released.