A BURGLAR who raided two homes while the occupants slept is behind bars for a crime spree which left his victims traumatised.

Darren Jenkins was told that the two-year sentence was half of what the judge had planned before hearing about his exceptional recent progress.

Since the two-month rampage in the summer, Jenkins has worked as a mentor for young offenders and impressed Probation Service officials.

His barrister, Peter Sabiston, told Teesside Crown Court that he had "changed his attitude, his lifestyle, and, more importantly, his offending".

Mr Sabiston said: "His attitude towards his victims was very different to what it is now. Perhaps he has reached a watershed in his life."

Jenkins, 27, and another man stole garden furniture and a ladder from a neighbour in Helmsley Street, Hartlepool, overnight on June 24 and 25.

Three days later, he took a taxi to the town's Brunel Close, asked the driver to wait, sneaked into a house and stole a handbag, and left in the cab.

He used a stolen credit card to buy a £165 Apple iPod and sold it for £70 to get money for alcohol and drugs, said Richard Parsell, prosecuting.

After again being given bail, Jenkins broke into a house in Chester Road at night on July 3 and took a laptop computer, games console and wallet.

Jenkins, of Helmsley Street, admitted two burglaries, theft and fraud, and asked for three further frauds from the stolen card to be taken into account.

Judge Fox told him: "It is said since you were caught for the last of these offences, you have turned over a new leaf and you have seen the light.

"Well, two old-fashioned sayings spring to mind - fine words butter no parsnips, and the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

"If you have turned over a new leaf then we shall see you no more, but you have to face up first of all to the reality of what you have done."