A TEENAGE girl from a respectable family went off the rails when a drug addiction took hold, a court heard.

Claire Duffy resorted to breaking into the home of a neighbour on Christmas Day in order to fund her heroin habit.

Durham Crown Court heard that when released on bail, following her arrest, Duffy attacked and robbed younger girls in the street, taking money and valuables. The 18-year-old, from Murton in east Durham, was yesterday sent to a young offenders' institution for two years after admitting burglary and robbery.

She also asked for two further house burglaries and a case of shoplifting to be taken into consideration. Judge George Moorhouse passed the custodial sentence despite an emotional plea for lenience in a letter from Duffy's mother.

Judge Moorhouse, who was asked to send Duffy on a drugs treatment and testing course, said it was his duty to pass the custodial sentence, to protect the public from frightening offences of that kind.

Chris Williamson, prosecuting, said Duffy and a male accomplice broke into the house in Brooklyn Terrace, at 5am on December 25, knowing the 75-year-old neighbour was away for Christmas. They went through every room in the house and took goods worth £348, most of which were recovered when police arrested Duffy at her home days later.

Mr Williamson said Duffy previously broke into the same house in November.

Brian Russell, mitigating, said she had gone from being a very promising, respectable young girl to someone who is committing serious offences, because of her addiction.