A would-be burglar tried the door handles of six neighbouring retirement flats at night in the hope one would be unintentionally unlocked, a court heard.

Doorbell camera footage from the targeted properties, all single-storey flats in the Gilesgate area of Durham, showed Daniel Robinson in the act, in the early hours of Wednesday, April 10.

Durham Crown Court heard he tried several door handles, but on finding one locked he simply moved on to the next door flat, in MacIntosh Court.

Philip Morley, prosecuting, said police were alerted over his activities and the defendant was detained in the area.

The Northern Echo: Daniel Robinson jailed at Durham Crown Court for spree of sneak-in burglary attempts in one street

When interviewed, he claimed to be looking for a friend in that area and denied being responsible for any burglaries or attempted burglaries.

Mr Morley said the flats targeted were lived in by mostly retired people of senior years.

The 40-year-old defendant, said to be care/of an address in North Crescent, Easington Colliery, appeared at the court plea hearing from prison in Doncaster, where he is on recall.

Despite his denials in his police interview, he admitted six counts of attempted burglary when the charges were put to him.

The Northern Echo: Daniel Robinson has a history of burglary and other acquisitive crimes in recent years

His record of 20 convictions for 45 offences was said to include past cases of burglary, which Mr Morley said was an aggravating feature.

They included a conviction for similar offending for which he received “a significant sentence", at the court in February last year, for which Robinson was under licence supervision at the time of the latest offences.

Rachel Kelly, for the defendant, said he was recalled to prison to serve the outstanding part of his previous sentence following his arrest last month.

She said the recall period is 14 months and the defendant is anxious to learn his fate given his current circumstances so he knows how long he has left to serve.

Miss Kelly said although charged as six counts of attempted burglary, it was, in reality, one extended offence, moving from one property onto the next on finding doors locked.

She said the defendant, when not in custody, has often found himself homeless and living on the street.

Recorder Richard Wright KC said they were, “opportunistic offences”, with no great pre-planning apparently having gone in to them.

He told Robinson: “You were trying doors to see if one might be unlocked, intending to go in to steal.

“As it was, you did not succeed, or go into any to steal or cause damage in any of them.

“Your case is aggravated by your appalling record for acquisitive crime convictions and the fact your were subject to licence conditions after your release from prison, at the time.

“It was, essentially, one incident where six doors were tried, rather than six incidents of burglary, or attempted burglary.”

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

Defendant, from New Brancepeth, failed to attend court in Durham for deferred sentence

Man jailed for Post Office armed robbery found with knife at village bank

Durham man handled stolen motorbikes and burgled a house

Get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device by subscribing to The Northern Echo, by clicking here.

The Recorder said after trial, Robinson would have received a 20-month prison sentence.

But, giving him 25-per cent credit for his prompt guilty pleas, he said he would reduce the sentence to one of 15 months.

He told Robinson that the sentence would run parallel with his prison recall period.