Lee Johnstone took high value property and cheques belonging to his father Ian Johnstone and a bike belonging to his little brother during the stealing spree.

The 26-year-old forced his way into private rooms his father kept locked and trashed the house at Johnstone Villas, Southwick, Sunderland, while Mr Johnstone was away.

Newcastle Crown Court heard it was while Mr Johnstone was on holiday on July 23 he received a call from his bank querying some transactions on his business account.

When Mr Johnstone returned home he found cheques missing from his book, and property including a £1,000 drum kit missing.

Prosecutor Tony Glover told the court: "When he got back he found his house had been trashed, there were filthy food plates all over and property was missing."

The court heard how Mr Johnstone had been reluctant to report his son in the past and Johnstone had always made excuses as to why property, including a Yamaha keyboard, was missing from the house.

But Johnstone was arrested on August 1 and admitted he had been taking property.

He told police: "It was debts for the crack cocaine, that's why I'm in this mess."

In a victim personal statement Mr Johnstone said: "I've stood by my son Lee in the past but he has now decided drugs are more important than his family. He's not welcome at my home again."

Johnstone, of no fixed address, admitted burglary and asked for three thefts from the family home to be taken into consideration.

Defence barrister Andrew Finlay said Johnstone, who has a string of previous convictions, has been making efforts to get the property, including a cement mixer, back for his father.

Judge David Hodson told Johnstone: "Your family must be thoroughly sick to death of you.

"You have abused all the help that has been coming your way from them by stealing from them in a fairly significant way, thousands of pounds-worth of property.

"Unless you can come to grips with your drug use and unless there is some intervention you will carry on committing crime to fund your habit.

"There has got to be a break in that habit."

Judge Hodson sentenced Johnstone to 12 months' imprisonment suspended for two years with drug rehabilitation for 12 months and supervision for 18 months.