A NATIONWIDE police search will be made in a bid to bring a doorstep conman to justice.

Lawrence William Crossling was yesterday jailed for seven years in his absence at Durham Crown Court.

He was convicted of two counts of burglary, one of which involved him entering a house in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, claiming to be a customs officer on a drugs search.

Crossling and an accomplice "jostled"

the owner's 24-year-old daughter, who was house-sitting while her parents were on holiday, before taking two safes and other property.

They threatened to have her "arrested", "confiscating" her mobile phone before leaving the house in Victoria Street.

The court heard the value of the property taken in the burglary, on April 3, was believed to be up to £70,000.

Crossling was arrested in Beverley, in East Yorkshire, in early July and brought to County Durham, where he was picked out on an identity parade in connection with the burglary.

But after being bailed pending further inquiries, two days later, he duped his way into the home of a 77-year-old man in Murton, County Durham, after asking if he needed any odd-jobs doing.

The victim only later discovered that his wallet, containing £300, had been taken.

Crossling, who was bailed to his mother's address in Bruce Crescent, and later Warren Road, in Hartlepool, failed to turn up for the scheduled opening of his trial, on Tuesday. Robin Denny, mitigating, spoke to him the previous day and expected him to be at court for the trial, and could offer no explanation for his absence.

Recorder Andrew Kershaw ruled the trial could begin without Crossling, on Wednesday, and issued a warrant for his arrest.

After 24-year-old Crossling was found guilty on unanimous jury verdicts yesterday, the court heard he was only released on licence from a three-and-a-half year sentence for wounding with intent and making threats to kill earlier last year.

A member of the travelling community, he was said to have been seen leaving in his car, towing a caravan, from a site in Eden Lane, Peterlee, early on Tuesday.

Imposing the seven-year sentence, Recorder Kershaw said: "These were serious offences, which had a bad effect on both victims, and there was an element of professional planning in each case.

"He will be arrested, although where and when the police just can't say."

Recorder Kershaw said that when he is arrested, Crossling will be dealt with for breaching his bail, be