A BURGLAR has failed in a bid to have his conviction overturned for a raid at a Darlington funeral parlour.

David Jonathan Errington's appeal was rejected by Teesside Crown Court judge David Bryant yesterday.

He was also sentenced to six months behind bars for the burglary - the remainder of the 12-month sentence imposed when he was first found guilty by magistrates last year.

Errington, 23, was convicted last June for a burglary at John Meynell Funeral Services, in North Road, the previous October, but was released when he launched his appeal.

His barrister, Kate Dodds, said the case was "at best, circumstantial" and the conviction should be quashed.

But Judge Bryant, sitting with two magistrates, ruled the evidence against Errington was compelling.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, told the court that Errington's fingerprints were found at the scene on business cards believed to have been used to open a door to gain access to an office.

The premises were left unattended, but locked, for about an hour while funeral director Keith Munt acted as a pallbearer at a funeral in Newton Aycliffe.

When he returned, he discovered the break-in, and that £500 in cash had been stolen.

Errington, of Bardon Moor Road, Darlington, admitted being in the building, but said he was there to find out where his recently-deceased grandmother was buried. He said the burglar must have struck after he visited.

He added he did not tell police he was looking for his grandmother's grave because he feared they would check the story with his mother, which would have upset her.