A "POTENTIALLY catastrophic" attempt to siphon petrol from a parked car resulted in a Middlesbrough man being sent to prison.

Anthony Muldoon was spotted by security camera operators as he lay on the floor with a knife, tampering with the pipes of a car before trying to break into another.

The 24-year-old left the vehicle in a potentially dangerous condition, with petrol able to leak from the pipe and the risk of bursting the brake pipes, which were left dangling down to the ground.

He pleaded guilty to damaging a vehicle, attempting to steal from a vehicle and possession of a pointed article when he appeared before Teesside Crown Court.

Muldoon, of Surrey Street, Middlesbrough, admitted cutting the petrol pipe and damaging the brake pipes while trying to siphon fuel from the car.

Sarah Mallett, prosecuting, said: "The metal brake pipes had been pulled from their holders and were hanging down from the vehicle and a small petrol pipe had been cut."

Paul Cleasby, mitigating, said: "It is a ridiculous offence to try and siphon petrol off in that way - it could have been a catastrophic offence.

"His recent history of offences is alcohol-based. He appears to be consuming far in excess of what is good for him."

The court heard that previously, Muldoon had received community orders for attempting to break into a service unit at a cemetery and for racially abusing a man on three occasions.

Sentencing Muldoon to a total of 15 months, Judge John Walford said: "You are still only 24 years old but, particularly in recent times, you have acquired a record for some quite serious offences.

Normally it would seem to be an issue where you have drunk too much - clearly alcohol has been a problem."

He added: "If I was to do anything other than give a custodial sentence to you it would give people the impression they can breach community orders with impunity and that would be quite wrong."

Muldoon was sentenced to 12 months for damaging the car and three months concurrent for possession of the knife. He was given an additional three months consecutive for the racially aggravated behaviour and one month concurrent for attempted burglary, after originally receiving a community sentence.