A PROLIFIC burglar was back behind bars last night after being linked to a series of night-time raids on homes while the occupants slept.

Amar Majid, 23, was jailed for five years for breaking into two houses on Teesside and handling hauls of stolen goods from another two.

Judge John Walford told him yesterday that he had brought misery and unease to the home-owners affected by his “remorseless” rampage in June.

Majid was on licence from an earlier sentence for burglary and had a suspended jail term hanging over him at the time of the crime-spree.

Jonathan Walker, mitigating, told Teesside Crown Court that Majid was keen to offer a “wholehearted apology”

to his victims.

“He has a high level of insight into the feelings of those affected,” he said. “This is a young man who is at last adopting a healthy attitude.

“He really recognises that he has to grow up, otherwise he is simply going to become a repeat offender receiving longer and longer sentences.”

Unemployed Majid, of Coltman Street, Middlesbrough, admitted burglary, attempted burglary and two charges of handling stolen goods.

He was caught after breaking into a house in Coulby Newham and being confronted by the occupant, who picked him out of an identity parade.

Hours earlier, he had struck at a property in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, and stole two computers, a games console and games and tools.

When police searched his home, they found bottles of perfume and a car key taken – along with a substantial amount of other things – taken in raids in Eaglescliffe and nearby Ingleby Barwick.

One of the victims said in a statement: “I don’t feel safe any more, knowing this person has been creeping around my home while I slept.”