A MAN involved in a church burglary avoided a prison sentence yesterday.

Teesside Crown Court heard there had been a break in at the Church of Christ the King in Trenchard Avenue, Thornaby, on May 30 last year.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said the canon's living quarters had been ransacked and a video recorder and toiletries were found in a bin bag in the kitchen.

Peter Lake's fingerprints were found on the property.

Lake, 23, of Springvale Terrace, Middlesbrough, admitted a charge of burglary. In an interview, Lake said he had been acting as a lookout.

Judge Anthony Briggs put him on a three year community rehabilitation order.