A HOMELESS teenager, who was allowed into a girlfriend's bedroom through the window in the early hours, returned to burgle the house later, a court was told yesterday.

Harrogate magistrates heard that Myles Gotting tapped on the bedroom window of a teenage girl in St John's Grove, Harrogate, in the early hours of September 8, after being a regular visitor to the house.

Nicola Lynskey, prosecuting, said Gotting, 18, spent several hours at the house, leaving with the girl at 11.30am when she went to college.

She locked the door and put the key under a flower pot.

Mrs Lynskey said that less than 90 minutes later, Gotting sold three DVDs at a shop in Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate, which had been stolen from the house. He had used the key to gain entry while the house was empty.

When the family returned home, they found the DVDs had gone, along with a £5 note and £5 in change.

When Gotting, a roofer who is now living in Westmoreland Street, Harrogate, pleaded guilty to burglary, Geoffrey Rogers, mitigating, said the offence had been committed out of desperation.

Gotting's family and the victims of his crime had known each other for years, and Gotting had been to the house on many occasions.

Mr Rogers said: "He didn't have the heart to ask if he could borrow money because he knew the family well."

Gotting was ordered to carry out 60 hours community work and pay £70 costs and £10 compensation.