A WOULD-be burglar who left his potential victim terrified has been given one last chance to overcome his drug addiction.

Heroin addict Michael Whitelock was trying to break into a house in Blakelock Road, Hartlepool, when he was spotted tampering with the window late at night.

The 29-year-old, of Earlston Walk, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court to the attempted burglary in April.

Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, told the hearing that Whitelock was a serial offender, who had been convicted on 59 occasions for 137 offences.

He said: "The woman in the house saw the defendant with his arm through the window trying to get in. When he couldn't get in, she watched him walk away and go into another garden. The police arrived and he was arrested shortly after."

Analise Haugstad, mitigating, said the defendant was in dire need of help to deal with his drug addiction.

She said: "It is clear that the offences of recent years have been feeding his drug addiction."

Sentencing Whitelock, the judge, Recorder Brian Cox, said: "I am conscious you have had to deal with many problems in your life. You have a long-standing heroin addiction and you have not had any particular help in recent years to address this problem."

He was given a 12-month supervision order and a six-month drug rehabilitation order.