A MAN who stole money after sneaking into his former step-father’s home drove off in his mobility vehicle, a court was told.

The break-in took place while the disabled victim slept on the living room settee of the house, in Peterlee, County Durham, on February 21.

Durham Crown Court heard he was woken at 9.30pm when his son returned home and told his father his Ford C-Max adapted vehicle had vanished from outside his Edenhill home.

The man noticed his car keys and £20 were missing from the window sill.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said a further £10 change was taken from his jacket, indicating someone must have sneaked in while he slept.

Minutes later he received a call from his former wife who told him she had seen her estranged son, Wayne Kenneth Metcalf, driving down Edenhill in the C-Max.

Police were alerted and an officer saw the car parked with its lights on more than ten miles away in Conyers Terrace, Ferryhill, at 9.50pm.

When the policeman drove past, the C-Max pulled away, but it was pursued and stopped in a nearby cul-de-sac.

Metcalf refused a breath test and became abusive to the officer who had to be helped by colleagues to complete his arrest.

Mr Abrahams said Metcalf’s mother and former step-father told police he had caused problems, costing them a great deal of money over the years, and neither wants anything more to do with him.

Metcalf, 31, of no fixed abode, admitted burglary, taking a vehicle without consent, failing to provide a breath specimen, driving other than in accordance with the licence and without insurance.

The court heard he was only released from a previous prison sentence shortly before the latest crimes were committed, last month.

Bill Davison, for Metcalf, said his offending was all alcohol-related, with his family’s attempts to help him ending in rows when he was “in drink”.

“Earlier on the day of the offence he fell out with his mother and was told to get out of her home, so he went to his former step-father’s home.

“He did not go there to break-in, but went for a lift and when he found him asleep he took the car keys.

“He has no recollection of taking the money,” added Mr Davison.

Jailing him for 20 months, Judge Christopher Prince also issued a restraining order forbidding Metcalf from contacting or approaching his mother, his former step-father and the man's two sons.

Metcalf was also banned from driving for a year.