Man, 25, jailed at Teesside Crown Court for burgling flat above Hartlepool social club in broad daylight

Jeffrey Mincher, 25, stole an Xbox games console and clothes after sneaking into the flat above the West End Social Club, in Murray Street, in daylight.

Teesside Crown Court heard that the victim was out at the time and the club was closed at around 3.15pm on Saturday, February 11, this year.

Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said Mincher and an accomplice were caught on CCTV entering the social club.

A second man kept guard at the door while Mincher went to the flat upstairs, she said.

An Xbox, Armani jumper, a pair of North Face shorts and some razor blades were taken.

Ms Haigh said: “The victim returned to find the Xbox missing, but in the kitchen food had been taken out of the freezer and left on the floor.”

Police recognised Mincher from the CCTV and traced him to an address in Bright Street where the stolen clothing was found.

The games console was never found.

Mincher, who has 25 previous convictions, mainly for theft and the like, pleaded guilty to the burglary.

Michael Cahill, mitigating for Mincher, said: “He is sorry for the loss that he has caused.”

He added that Mincher wishes to leave prison with “a clean slate”.

The case against a man accused of his being his accomplice is still going through the courts.

Judge Paul Watson, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, told Mincher he would serve half of the 10-month jail sentence before being released.