A ‘THREE-STRIKES’ burglar was told to expect a lengthy prison sentence after admitting his latest two break-ins.

The warning was given to Paul Ramshaw following his admissions at Durham Crown Court today (Thursday May 2).

One of the offences was the burglary of a house not far from his own home in Horden, County Durham.

He broke into the property, in Eden Street, while the owner was away for two days in December.

The resident returned on December 12 to discover an intruder had apparently entered, as he found drawers open and the television set was missing.

A Sony Play Station 1 and 15 games were also stolen.

Ramshaw, now 30, of Sea View Gardens, appeared at the court in January charged with that burglary and was bailed to return for today’s (May 2) plea hearing.

But in the intervening period he was arrested in relation to a break-in at a house in Hawkshead Place, Newton Aycliffe, on April 1.

He pleaded ‘guilty’ to both the December break-in, in Horden, and a second charge of burglary, trespassing the property in Newton Aycliffe with intent to steal, on April 1.

His barrister, Jane Waugh, asked for sentence to be adjourned to allow for preparation of a background report on Ramshaw by the Probation Service.

Judge Christopher Prince agreed, but warned Ramshaw he was considering making the sentence “consecutive” because the second break-in was committed while on bail.

He remanded him in custody until sentence on Friday May 31.