A SERIAL burglar is beginning five-and-a-half years behind bars following 12 break-ins in less than four months last year.

Ian Strong, 29, targeted homes in Durham and the surrounding villages that would yield a high value haul of stolen goods to help meet the cost of his heroin addiction.

Durham Crown Court heard that among the premises burgled between June and September were houses in Albert Street, in the Western Hill area of the city, and Front Street, in Broompark.

Chris Williamson, prosecuting, said Strong took goods worth £16,000 from another house. The haul included a Rolex watch.

Mr Williamson told the court that Strong's record included a number of similar previous offences.

He was still on licence following his early release from a ten-year sentence imposed at Teesside Crown Court in 1996 for robbery and burglary.

Penny Moreland, for Strong, said he accepted that he faced a significant period of custody.

Strong, of Skipper's Meadows, Ushaw Moor, near Durham, admitted two burglary offences and asked for eight similar offences to be considered.

Passing sentence, which included 18 months of the unserved period from his previous stretch, Judge Maurice Carr told Strong: "You have a previous record for robbery and you present a significant risk of further offending.

"You have a propensity to enter other people's houses and take property.

"My public duty compels me to pass a lengthy sentence."