A BURGLAR was caught after he broke into student accommodation - and left his electronic tag inside the property.

Gary Hearn, 20, was given an electronic curfew after a raid in February and still had the Securicor tag around his ankle when he forced his way into student flats in Jesmond, Newcastle, in April.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the force of the kicks he used to get inside the building must have damaged the tag and it was found on the floor by police.

Securicor staff were immediately able to give the officers all of the information they needed about the wearer of the device.

Hearn, who already has 11 previous convictions for burglary and attempted burglary, was arrested and admitted he was "out of it" when he targeted the accommodation with two others.

The court heard how Hearn, from Newcastle, is now doing well on an employment course and is hoping to turn his back on crime.

Judge David Hodson deferred sentence for six months and said if he got into any further trouble he would be locked up for a minimum of three years.