(Image: Durham Constabulary)
A drug user twice broke into the home of his father, the first time to steal to fund his addiction and the second seeking somewhere to sleep.
Ayrton Glendenning stole £500 from a bedside cabinet after making a messy search of the property, in Arthur Street, Crook, at a time his father was away, between March 14 and 21.
Teesside Crown Court was told Glendenning took the door off its hinges to gain entry and spots of his blood were found at the premises.
Despite being subject of police bail with a condition not to enter Crook, Glendenning returned and broke in again, after smashing a kitchen window at 9pm, on May 25, walking past his mother outside as he left.
The court heard he took the keys to his father’s van in which he was found sleeping the following day.
A statement made by his father and read to the court said he has, “had enough of the stress” his son has put him though, mainly due to his drug debts, which has cost him thousands of pounds to support.
He added that it was beginning to impact on his mental health.
Glendenning 23, of no fixed abode, appeared at the court for sentence via video link from Holme House Prison, Stockton, where he has been on remand, after his arrest having failed to attend a previously-listed sentence hearing.
He admitted two counts of burglary at previous hearings.
The court was told he has only one previous conviction, for offences of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a bladed article, for which he received a 40-month young offenders’ institution sentence in 2021.
Cainan Lonsdale, in mitigation, said the defendant’s offending was, “borne out of a significant drug addiction”, which he’s tried hard to overcome.
Mr Lonsdale told the court: “He accepts the first burglary was to steal to fund his ongoing drug addiction, but the second was more a case of finding somewhere to sleep.
“He was found with a blanket over himself in the back of the van.
“He realises his addiction has cost him his relationship with his father and understands he only has himself to blame.
“He has taken steps to reduce his drug problem and has expressed a desire to rid himself of it altogether.”
Mr Lonsdale said the defendant has found his time in prison difficult as he fears being targeted by people who have taken against him over another, sexual allegation, for which the police are now understood to be taking no further action.
Judge Jo Kidd told the defendant his father has, “bent over backwards” to support him in the past due to his misuse of drugs, assistance he has repaid him for by committing these offences.
“You think you can commit these offences and get away with them.
“Well, you can’t.”
She imposed a 21-month sentence, which would have been 28 months had the defendant not made his guilty pleas.
The judge also issued a restraining order prohibiting Glendenning from approaching of communicating, directly or indirectly, with his father.
He is forbidden from going to his home and must stay out of Arthur Street, Crook, altogether.
The order runs for five years.