A TEENAGE burglar avoided jail yesterday despite committing other similar offences.

The 14-year-old boy from Darlington, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced for burglary at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday. He pleaded guilty to the offence at a previous hearing.

Derek Walton, prosecuting, told the court that the defendant had been involved in the burglary of a house in Witton Crescent, Darlington, which was up for sale.

He said: "Every room had been entered and ransacked and several boxes were partially empty."

He said another person had broken into the house and the defendant had followed that person in. He said there was no evidence to suggest that the defendant was responsible for all the missing items.

The incident took place on October 4 last year.

Steven Andrews, mitigating, said the defendant's role in the incident was to help to take away items, including a trampoline.

He said the defendant had been influenced by older friends, adding that a custodial sentence may lead the defendant into a cycle of offending.

Chairman of the Bench Alan Milligan said: "We are very concerned that this is now your third burglary. You are building up a record and you are only 14."

The defendant was given a 12-month supervision order, with a six-month intensive supervision and surveillance programme. He was also given a three-month curfew from 8pm to 7am and will be electronically tagged. He was also ordered to pay £60 costs.