A heroin addict burgled his parents' home weeks before violently robbing his mother.

Adam Claughton, 24, raided his family home two days before Christmas last year and attempted to sell his parents' £500 hi-fi system for £30 to spend on the drug.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Claughton was taken in by his sympathetic grandparents but had been asked to leave their home while they went on holiday in March.

But the court heard that his mother turned up at the house at Derwent Crescent, Great Lumley, County Durham, on March 7, two days after he was formally charged with the burglary, to find he had pawned the elderly couple's television.

Roger Elsey, prosecuting, told the court: "He should not have been there. They wanted him out while they were away and unable to supervise him.

"He was shouting that he needed money and grabbed hold of his mother's handbag. She fought to keep grip but he swung her around and she fell and hit her head with some force, letting go of her bag."

The court heard that Claughton had uttered "sorry mum", but made no attempt to help her off the ground and made off with the bag.

The court heard that Claughton's long-suffering family had agreed to give him another chance and he has been welcomed back to stay with his grandparents.

Sentence was adjourned so he can be assessed for a drug treatment and testing order in a bid to keep him away from heroin.

Judge Beatrice Bolton adjourned sentence until next week but branded the offences "mean, selfish and revolting".