A burglar who made off with a family’s car and other possessions while the occupant was at home has been jailed.

Shaun Wilson, 38, stole a Renault Kadjar after breaking into the owner’s house in Hartlepool in broad daylight.

The vehicle’s owner was upstairs getting ready to go out when he thought he heard two people laughing close by, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Sue Hirst, prosecuting, said: “The noise caught his attention so he went and looked out of the bedroom window.

Shaun Wilson was jailed after admitting burglary and theft of a car.

placeholder image — Shaun Wilson was jailed after admitting burglary and theft of a car.

“He immediately noticed that his car which had been parked on the driveway was no longer there.”

As he was on the phone to his wife, the victim noticed other items missing including a PlayStation 5 console and two controllers.

Ms Hirst said a police drone operator working on another incident nearby, soon spotted the stolen car enter the Oakesway industrial estate and a man and a woman get out.

The car’s front registration plate had been removed. More officers were dispatched to the scene and Wislon was arrested.

The woman was seen discarding the games console which had been stolen from the house earlier on June 19.

She was later fined £200 by magistrates and ordered to pay costs for handling stolen goods.

Wilson, of Raby Road, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft of the car, handling stolen goods, driving without insurance and possession of drugs.

In an impact statement, the homeowner said the burglary has had a devastating impact on his family, and caused significant practical problems.

He said: “This was an invasive violation of our home and my family’s safety.”

Wilson, who had 49 previous offences on his record, was jailed for two years and four months.

The judge, Recorder Caroline Goodwin, told him: “Surely, you must have heard listening to the devastating effects that stealing this vehicle from the drive of those very innocent people, the absolute heartache it’s caused them.

“Everyone’s home should be a safe venue for them to be able to return to and to feel safe.”

In mitigation, Jennifer Coxon said Wilson fell back into taking drugs, which he started using as a teenager, after the deaths of three friends.

She added: “He wants to better himself for his son.”