Hartlepool man jailed after being caught red handed inside couple's home

Mark McKie, 33, was found inside the house in Studley Road, Hartlepool, by the man and woman after he had made an untidy search of their home, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The couple had popped out to the shops and their 11-year-old son was in another room playing on his computer.

He was left extremely upset by the burglary, the court heard.

McKie, of Northumberland Walk, Hartlepool, was on his way to a drug rehab appointment in Whitby Street when he went into the victims’ house and rifled through their belongings.

He was caught in the act by the couple on their return from the shops and there was a struggle before McKie ran off leaving his mobile phone behind.

The man who lived their chased after him and punched him before McKie was arrested.

He originally denied burglary, claiming he heard his daughter’s voice inside.

But he later admitted the offence and taking a mobile phone, satnav device and car keys.

In a statement the boy’s mum said he worries about being in the house alone and they have to check nobody is there whenever they go in.

Kate Barnes, defending McKie said in mitigation: “He deeply regrets the impact this offending has had on him.”

She said he had been a regular drug user and the homeowner had dished out “quite considerable retribution” when he caught him.

Judge Stephen Ashurst jailed him for 12 months.

He said: “You helped yourself to various items. There was a degree of ransacking.”

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