Burglar jailed after 19 house raids in Tyneside

Paul Nicholson smashed his way into family homes and made off with jewellery and property.

Newcastle Crown Court heard one householder, who was home when his address was targeted, barricaded himself into his bathroom and called the police when he realised he had an intruder.

Another victim was left "angry, shocked and horrified" when her home was raided for over £1,500 worth of jewellery as well as as expensive gadgets.

The mum said her son's bedroom was "trashed" during the break-in.

Nicholson, 22, of no fixed address, who was on a suspended sentence at the time, pleaded guilty to three charges of burglary, all committed in Newcastle and the surrounding areas, between October and November last year.

He asked for a further 16 similar raids to be taken into consideration by the sentencing judge.

Mr Recorder William Lowe QC sentenced him to a total of 29 months behind bars.

The judge told him: "These are serious offences. It would seem you were facing financial difficulties and you resorted to offending by way of breaking into people's homes."

The judge said the victim who alerted the emergency servicing while hiding out in the bathroom was "absolutely terrified" by what happened.

Lee Fish, defending, said Nicholson was facing financial difficulties, was abusing drugs and had nowhere to live when he carried out the raids.

Mr Fish added: "He committed these serious offences against that background. He has not offended in this way before."