A PAIR of burglars were caught when they stopped to report a house fire while fleeing a raid.

Peter Harrison, 22, and Ricky Milner, 18, had stolen more than £5,000 worth of jewellery and property - which they stashed in pillowcases - from a house in Park Road, Hetton-le-Hole, Wearside.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that, as they made their way home with the loot, they spotted a fire at a secluded farm in Murton Lane, County Durham.

The pair stashed their haul and alerted the sleeping owners to the blaze - unaware police would check security camera footage of the scene to try to find the cause of the blaze.

When the footage was viewed, Harrison and Milner were clearly seen lurking in bushes with their pillowcases full of valuables.

Ros Scott-Bell, prosecuting, told the court: "The two defendants informed the owner that the outbuilding of his farm was alight. The police and fire brigade attended, and when they looked at his CCTV they could see the two defendants walking into view, each carrying a pillowcase.

"They hid them in bushes near the farm, and when the police went to the location the pillowcases were recovered."

Milner was sentenced to a community rehabilitation order for two years and 100 hours community service.

Judge Esmond Faulkes said he was influenced by his accomplice, Harrison, who was jailed for three years.

The court heard that he was on bail at the time of the burglary for a raid at a home in Seaham, east Durham.