A FOURTH-STRIKE burglar was caught after his latest break-in thanks to the vigilance of the householder’s son.

Joseph Andrew Price entered the residential property in Chester-le-Street through an unlocked door, while the teenage occupant was watching television in his upstairs bedroom, on the afternoon of April 26.

Durham Crown Court heard that hearing the sound of footsteps downstairs, the teenager thought it must have been his father returning to the house, in Hadrian Road.

But, following the sound of keys dropping to the floor, he looked over the banister and saw an intruder walking out of the front door.

The teenager rang his father to tell him what was happening and then continued his surveillance as the burglar removed his socks, placed them over his hands and got into an Audi Cabriolet car parked on the drive way.

Paul Currer, prosecuting, said Price set off the car alarm, but managed to de-activate it using the key fob.

He then calmly walked away down the street and the young householder followed him, at a safe distance, pointing him out to his father as he passed, dashing home.

Mr Currer said the father apprehended Price in a nearby street, bringing him back to their house, where police were informed.

Price said he threw the car keys into a bush, but they were not found and it cost the family £250 to replace them, as they contained a security device.

The court heard that Price’s 14 convictions for 33 offences include three previous burglaries.

He received three years of a total four-and-a-half year custodial sentence for his last burglary conviction, in July 2011.

Price, 21, of Lowther Avenue, Chester-le-Street, admitted the latest burglary.

Tony Davis, mitigating, told the court: “The reality is, given his antecedent history even at his young age, he’s in danger of becoming a classically recidivist offender.

“He’s had significant problems over his use of controlled drugs and there was a combination of alcohol and drugs again in this case.

“The danger is that he will receive longer and longer sentences.”

Jailing him for five years, Judge Peter Kelson told Price: “This was committed only three to four months after your release from your previous long sentence for burglary.

“It was very serious, a burglary of a house occupied by a 16-year-old.”

The judge said the sentence would have been six years, but for Price’s guilty plea.