A BURGLAR who raided his brother’s home was yesterday granted his wish when he asked to be locked up to prove he was sorry.

Shawn Bingham was sent to a young offenders’ institution for ten months for breaking into the flat in Blackbush Walk, Thornaby, near Stockton.

The 20-year-old stole property to trade in at a secondhand shop, so he could buy £10 of cannabis, Teesside Crown Court heard.

A probation officer who interviewed Bingham believes he was also vengeful because he had been asked to leave the flat several days earlier.

Bingham’s brother, John, allowed him to stay for several months until his landlord warned him he faced losing his tenancy unless his brother left.

On September 4 last year, Bingham broke in through a bathroom window after his brother went to work, the court was told.

He stole a PlayStation console and 20 games, as well as £4 and a ceremonial dagger of sentimental value, said Jolyon Perks, prosecuting.

Bingham, of no fixed address, admitted burglary, and his barrister, Duncan McReddie, asked judge Recorder Neil Davey to lock him up.

“I have express and specific instructions which are rather unusual in a case of this type,”

Mr McReddie told the judge.

“My client has instructed me to mitigate on the basis that he should receive an immediate term of imprisonment.

“Shawn Bingham firstly wishes to demonstrate to his brother that he is willing to take appropriate punishment for what he has done.

“Secondly, he is extremely worried about his own lack of accommodation, and thirdly he sees little prospect of a properly structured future.

“He sees the best way of approaching those concerns is by way of imprisonment.”

Mr Recorder Davey said he believed Bingham was motivated by revenge, and told Mr McReddie: “I see it the same.”

He told Bingham: “You were after property in return for cash for your drug misuse and you had it in for your brother as well. House burglary is always a serious matter, but it is made the more serious because of the element of meanness attached to it.

“It was committed against your brother’s address because he had effectively evicted you a few days earlier.”