A man has been charged after two County Durham businesses were broken into earlier this month – leaving the owners of the independent stores “devastated”.  

The incidents at Clean Bean and The Lamp Room, on North Terrace, in Seaham, saw money, laptops and iPads being stolen in the early hours of Friday, June 10.

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Robert Young, of Hendon, Sunderland, was arrested in connection with the offences and will appear in court next month.

He was charged with two counts of burglary.

No pleas were entered at court, and the 41-year-old was remanded in custody.

Mr Young is due to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on July 13.

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