A DRUG-addled burglar who climbed in through a dog flap before helping himself to ice cream and petting the family dog has been jailed for a year.

Paul Maloney, who claimed he was 'off-his-****' on drugs at the time, was heard banging around the house in the early hours of the morning.

And when the woman came down stairs to see what was happening she spotted his legs hanging through the flap as he attempted to escape.

The woman woke her husband who ran downstairs and chased Maloney into the garden where he apprehended the burglar while waiting for the police to arrive.

Jonathan Gittins, prosecuting, said the defendant had broken into the house at around 3.30am on Friday June 12 and ransacked the downstairs of the property on Aviemore Road, Middlesbrough.

He said: "She saw a pair of legs sticking through the dog flap, she ran back upstairs and woke her husband up before calling the police.

"Her husband ran downstairs and confronted Maloney in the garden. The defendant said 'he didn't know what he was doing' and he said 'he was off-his-****'.

"Maloney ran to the end of the garden but was stopped by the homeowner and a neighbour."

Mr Gittins told the court that nothing was missing from the home but a BMX was removed from a garden shed ready to be stolen.

In police interview, the defendant said he was unable to explain why he had a pair of black gloves and a torch with him but fully admitted the offence.

Maloney, of Victoria Avenue, Wallsend, pleaded guilty to a single charge of burglary.

His barrister, Nigel Soppitt said: "He was down on his luck, he had lost his job due to the pandemic and he had fallen out with his parents and was no longer living with them – but they have reconciled now."

Mr Soppitt said the defendant admitted the burglary and his behaviour was 'out of character' before urging the judge to suspend sentence.

He added: "He said he sat with the dog, stroking it, and eating ice cream – which is bizarre behaviour.

"When the door opened he was through the dog flap again and goes into the garden where he was confronted by the homeowner – he was not confrontational at all."

Maloney's mother read out a letter to the court where she told the judge her son's behaviour was completely out-of-character and said the family was now reconciled.

She added: "He realises what he has done and thoroughly regrets his actions."

Judge Paul Watson QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, said he accepted the burglary was out-of-character.

He said: "The woman came downstairs to find you trying to scurry out of the dog flap. you were confronted in the garden by the husband and you remained in the garden until the police arrived.

"It must have been a traumatic experience for this couple to have a complete stranger in their house at night."