A serial burglar was warned he is facing "a long time" behind bars after he admitted a six-day spree targeting homes mostly in his home town.

Kyle Mawson appeared at Durham Crown Court having been arrested in connection with a series of thefts from homes in Ferryhill last month.

The 36-year-old fifth-strike burglar is said to have unlawfully entered homes in Rennie Street, Newton Street, Stephenson Street and Brunel Street, all in Ferryhill, between June 13 and June 19.

Among items he was said to have stolen were money, a wallet, a phone charger, a watch, a silver ring, plus credit/bank cards, which he attempted to use to buy items at Poundland and Sainsbury’s stores, both on June 19.

Read more: Ferryhill man charged with several burglaries in town

Mawson is also accused of two further break-ins, both at homes on Whinney Hill, Durham, near to the city’s prison, also on June 19.

Appearing via video link from the prison, where he has been on remand since his first court appearance, before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe, on June 21, the charges were put to Mawson, who admitted all eight offences.

Following the defendant’s guilty pleas, Judge James Adkin said: “It’s a custody case measuring in years, but before I pass sentence I want to hear more from the victims about the impact of the offences.

“I want to know the ages of the victims and the impact of the offences on them."

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Addressing Mawson, Judge Adkin told him: “I don’t have time to pass sentence on you today, but it will be the case in a week’s time.

“You know yourself, being now a fifth-strike burglar, that it will be a long sentence. You know it will be a long time.”

He remanded Mawson to remain in custody, pending the sentencing hearing on Tuesday, July 25.