Sunderland burglar 'blighted by drink' jailed after damaging window to reach in and steal cash

Gareth Lumsden stole £85 cash and a speaker after forcing open a window that had been left on the latch at a downstairs flat in Carley Road, Sunderland, in August.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the couple and their child had been out of their home for just 40 minutes when the raid happened in August.

Prosecutor Liam O'Brien said the victims were left "angry and upset" that their home had been targeted and the family now feel unsafe.

Mr O'Brien said their child felt "anxious and upset about what happened and whether it could happen again".

The court heard the family had to fork out £100 to repair the damage to the window.

Lumsden, 37, of Edward Burdis Road, Sunderland, who has 109 previous convictions on his record, admitted burglary.

Judge Penny Moreland sentenced him to two years and five months behind bars.

Judge Moreland told him: "You stole property from a ground floor flat by reaching in through a window which was ajar, breaking it to get the items you wanted."

Jamie Adams, defending, said the burglary was "opportunistic" while Lumsden, who had an alcohol problem, was "blighted by drink".

Mr Adams said Lumsden is "making efforts" to change.

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