A JUDGE criticised the police and probation service yesterday for allowing a burglar his freedom and told a court: "It beggar's belief."

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Peter Fox, spoke out after Carl Thompson was jailed for seven years for two late-night burglaries at the homes of a pregnant woman and an elderly woman.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Thompson, a heroin addict, had been released early on licence from a three-year prison term for burglary - but went on to commit another break-in in January last year.

Officers arrested him at the scene, but he was granted bail for six weeks before being recalled to prison on licence.

Thompson was charged with burglary three months after the incident, but was released again on July 1.

Weeks later, he broke into a 87-year-old woman's house and rifled through her bedroom as she slept.

Judge Fox said: "The police should have charged you and had you before the magistrates.

"That, at least, would have saved you from committing the other burglary.

"The public are justifiably concerned about people like you being released early from your prison sentence.

"How you could have been released a second time beggar's belief."

Judge Fox criticised how a senior probation worker could categorise the 28-year-old as a low-risk offender and allow him back into the community.

He added: "I can only say that either the system is either seriously defective, or those who use it do not know how to use it."

The court heard Thompson broke into a house in Easby Avenue, Middlesbrough, on January 9, at 3.30am, while the pregnant householder was in bed. He made off with £8,000 of goods but was arrested at the scene after a neighbour alerted police.

On August 18, the addict burgled the home of an elderly woman in Bluebell Row, Middlesbrough but was arrested by police at the scene.

He admitted two charges of burglary.