A YOUNG drug taker breached the trust of his girlfriend's parents by burgling their home for cash to pay for heroin.

Craig Wallace, 22, took £3,000 and jewellery worth almost £1,000 during the day-time break-in when he knew the family would be away from house, in Gelt Avenue, Easington Lane, Wearside.

Durham Crown Court heard he used a key given to him by the family to gain access, but made it look like a break-in by smashing a window at the rear of the house.

A banned driver, he was arrested weeks later when caught at the wheel of a Ford XR2 after driving off from a filling station without paying for £15 worth of petrol.

Four rings taken from the house, plus two wraps of heroin, were found in his underpants when he was searched.

Wallace admitted carrying out the burglary, with another person he refused to name, to pay for his heroin addiction.

Michael Graham, prosecuting, said only the four rings had been recovered.

Paul Cross, for Wallace, told the court: "He was in the grip of addiction to heroin at the time and the money has gone to pay off debts."

Mr Cross said a period behind bars "may bring him to his senses" as he hoped it would rid him of his addiction.

Wallace, 22, of Elemore Lane, Easington Lane, admitted burglary, driving while disqualified, and without insurance, making off without payment, and possession of a class A drug.

Jailing him for 22 months, Judge Michael Cartlidge told him: "It must be dreadful for that family to know that they offered you hospitality and you stole money and jewellery from them, most of which will not be recovered.

"It's a terrible thing to have done."