Theft tour addict sent to prison

A burglar who took detectives on a tour of his victims' homes has been jailed for four years.

Teesside Crown Court heard that heroin addict Paul McArthur, 27, showed police all of the properties he had raided in Darlington in the past two years.

McArthur was arrested after police received DNA results on blood he left at the scene of one of the break-ins.

McArthur, from Corporation Road, Darlington, admitted three burglaries and asked for 14 more to be considered.

The court was told McArthur committed his first burglary at 14 years of age and was liable for a three-year minimum jail sentence under the "three-strikes" legislation.

Chris Baker, defending, said: "He went out with police officers around Darlington and pointed out addresses that he had burgled over the last two years which had not been detected.

"This is a man who wishes the slate to be clean and then to start a fresh life.

"He is desperate to rid himself of heroin and he realises he will have to make efforts on his release to ensure that he does not fall back into this pattern."