A THREE strikes burglar swiftly returned to his old habits on his release from prison for a previous break-in, a court heard.

Within four days of regaining his freedom Graeme Christopher Park was back in custody after being arrested for suspected burglary.

Durham Crown Court heard that Park was released on licence on March 10 after serving half of a two year and five month sentence for stealing Christmas presents from a house in Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, in December 2011.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said the victim of the latest crime returned home at about 3pm on March 14, to discover the property, in Barbary Close, Pelton, had been forcibly entered in his absence, since he went out that morning.

Mr Dryden said entry was forced via rear patio doors and there appeared to have been an untidy search in which electrical items, a watch and a coin collection were taken.

Forensic lifts of the intruder’s footwear were taken and they were matched to those of Park, who had been arrested leaving the area amid other inquiries.

Despite his initial denials, 34-year-old Park, of no fixed abode, admitted the burglary at his first court appearance, days later.

The court was told since the incident the victim has had his prized coin collection returned.

Jamie Adams, mitigating, told the court: “He was recalled to prison immediately to serve the remaining 15 months of his licence regardless of the sentence he is to receive today.

“It’s often said that the immediate days after release are the time when someone is most vulnerable to re-offending.

“He not only has a predilection for alcohol and heavy drinking, but also to drugs.

“He’s been on prescribed methadone to deal with a long-standing heroin addiction and got his daily dosage down while in custody, so he’s clearly trying to deal with that addiction.

“On his release he was in ‘b & b’ accommodation and met up with old friends, was offered valium, and, before long, was drinking and committing offences again.”

Jailing him for three years, Judge Christopher Prince told Park: “There is clearly an ongoing risk of you re-offending.

“It’s an aggravating feature that you were only just released on licence when you entered that house, which was, at the time, unoccupied.”

The judge added the “one good thing to emerge” was that at least the victim’s coin collection has been returned.